Melon variety nun 71560 mem

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct melon variety NUN 71560 MEM is disclosed as well as seeds and plants and fruits thereof. NUN 71560 MEM is a Honey Dew melon variety, comprising resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis Race 0 and Race 2, Podosphaera xanthii Race 5, and Aphis gossypii.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. The disclosure furtherrelates to vegetative reproductions of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM,methods for tissue culture of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, andregenerating a plant from such a tissue culture and to phenotypicvariants of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. The disclosure also relates toprogeny of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the hybrid varieties obtainedby crossing melon variety NUN 71560 MEM as a parent line with plants ofother varieties or parent lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The goal of plant breeding is to combine various desirable traits in asingle variety. Such desirable traits may include greater yield,resistance to diseases, insects or other pests, tolerance to heat anddrought, better agronomic quality, higher nutritional value, enhancedgrowth rate, and improved fruit properties.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant’s method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same genotype. A plant cross-pollinates if pollen comes to it from aflower of a different genotype. Plants that have been self-pollinatedand selected for (uniform) type over many generations become homozygousat almost all gene loci and produce a uniform population of truebreeding progeny of homozygous plants. A cross between two suchhomozygous plants of different lines produces a uniform population ofhybrid plants that are heterozygous for many gene loci. The extent ofheterozygosity in the hybrid is a function of the genetic distancebetween the parents. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygousat a number of loci produces a segregating population of hybrid plantsthat differ genetically and are not uniform. The resultingnon-uniformity makes performance unpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants to makehybrids, and the evaluation of the hybrids resulting from the crosses.Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection are examples of breedingmethods that have been used to develop inbred plants from breedingpopulations. Those breeding methods combine the genetic backgrounds fromtwo or more plants or various other broad-based sources into breedingpools from which new lines are developed by selfing and selection ofdesired phenotypes. The new plants are evaluated to determine which havecommercial potential.

One crop species which has been subject to such breeding programs and isof particular value is the melon. It belongs to the Cucurbitacea familyand has originated in Asia. The plant is a large and sprawling annual,grown for its fruit. The fruit of most species of Cucumis melo is oftencolored attractively, commonly yellow, orange or red. Melon can containblack seeds, which are considered undesirable for some uses. Commontypes include Persian, Honey Dew, Casaba, Crenshaw, Common/Summer andsubtypes such as the popular Galia, Canary, Western Shipper or the newCrispy types. Melon is typically consumed fresh as desserts, snacks, orin salads.

One of the leading consumers of melon is the United States withCalifornia as the major producer. Melon is available year-round butsupply peaks in August and ends in November.

While breeding efforts to date have provided a number of useful melonvarieties with beneficial traits, there remains a great need in the artfor new varieties with further improved traits. Such plants wouldbenefit farmers and consumers alike by improving crop yields and/orquality. Breeding objectives include varying the color, size, textureand flavor of the fruit, absence of seeds, optimizing flesh thickness,disease or pest resistance, yield, suitability to various climaticcircumstances, solid content (% dry matter), sugar content, and storageproperties.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure provides for melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, productsthereof, and methods of using the same. NUN 71560 MEM is a Honey Dewmelon variety and is suitable for growing in the open field.

In another aspect, the plant of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, or partthereof, or progeny thereof comprises resistance to Fusarium oxysporumf. sp. melonis Race 0 and Race 2, Podosphaera xanthii Race 5, and Aphisgossypii, measured according to TG104/5.

In another aspect, the plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM or a progenythereof has 27, 28, or more or all of the distinguishing characteristicsas shown in Table 3 when compared to the Reference Variety whendetermined at 5% significance level for numerical characteristics anddetermined by type or degree for non-numerical characteristics forplants grown under the same environmental conditions.

-   1. early maturity cycle;-   2. dark green (RHS N137B) mature leaf color;-   3. longer mature leaf length;-   4. larger mature leaf width;-   5. longer mature leaf petiole length;-   6. dark intensity of green color of mature leaf;-   7. weak leaf blistering;-   8. absent or very sparse density of dots of young fruit;-   9. small size of dots of young fruit;-   10. weak contrast of dot color/ground color of young fruit;-   11. medium length of peduncle of young fruit;-   12. round shape of fruit at edible maturity;-   13. broad diameter of fruit at edible maturity;-   14. small to medium ratio of length/diameter of fruit at edible    maturity;-   15. circular shape in longitudinal section of fruit at edible    maturity;-   16. medium to large pistil scar of fruit at edible maturity;-   17. white rind color (RHS 155A) at edible maturity;-   18. yellow green flesh color (RHS 145D) near cavity at edible    maturity;-   19. yellow green flesh color (RHS 145D) in center at edible    maturity;-   20. yellow green flesh color (RHS 145D) near rind at edible    maturity;-   21. higher % soluble solids at edible maturity;-   22. less firm flesh (penetrometer reading);-   23. larger seed cavity width;-   24. medium intensity of cream yellow seed color;-   25. no resistance to Podosphaera xanthii Race 1;-   26. no resistance to Podosphaera xanthii Race 2;-   27. resistant to Podosphaera xanthii Race 5; and-   28. resistant to Aphis gossypii.

The disclosure also provides for a progeny of melon variety NUN 71560MEM. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a plant or a progenyretaining all or all but one, two, or three of the “distinguishingcharacteristics” or all or all but one, two, or three of the“morphological and physiological characteristics” of the plant of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM, and methods for producing that plant or progeny.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a plant or a progeny havingall the physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant ofvariety NUN 71560 MEM when grown under the same environmentalconditions. In another aspect, the plant or progeny has all or all butone, two, or three of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the plant of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, whenmeasured under the same environmental conditions and e.g., evaluated atsignificance levels of 1%, 5% or 10% significance (which can also beexpressed as a p-value) for quantitative characteristics and determinedby type or degree for non-quantitative characteristics, wherein arepresentative sample of seed of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM has beendeposited under Accession Number NCIMB 44082. In another aspect, theplant or progeny has all or all but one, two, or three of thephysiological and morphological characteristics as listed in Tables 1and 2 for melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, when measured under the sameenvironmental conditions and e.g., evaluated at significance levels of1%, 5% or 10% (which can also be expressed as a p-value) forquantitative characteristics and determined by type or degree fornon-quantitative characteristics.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a seed of melon variety NUN71560 MEM, wherein a representative sample of said seed has beendeposited under Accession Number NCIMB 44082. The disclosure alsoprovides for a plurality of seeds of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. Themelon seed of variety NUN 71560 MEM may be provided as an essentiallyhomogeneous population of melon seed. The population of seed of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM may be particularly defined as essentially freefrom other seed. The seed population may be grown into plants to providean essentially homogeneous population of melon plants as describedherein.

The disclosure also provides a plant grown from a seed of melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM and plant part thereof.

The disclosure further provides a melon fruit produced on a plant grownfrom a seed of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

The disclosure furthermore provides a seed growing or grown on a plantof variety NUN 71560 MEM (i.e., produced after pollination of the flowerof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM).

The disclosure also provides a melon plant or part thereof having all ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM when grown under the same environmentalconditions.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides for a plant part obtainedfrom melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, wherein said plant part is: a fruit, aharvested fruit, a part of a fruit, a leaf, a part of a leaf, pollen, anovule, a cell, a petiole, a shoot or a part thereof, a stem or a partthereof, a root or a part thereof, a root tip, a cutting, a seed, a partof a seed, seed coat or another maternal tissue which is part of a seedgrown on said variety, a hypocotyl, cotyledon, a scion, a stock, arootstock, a pistil, an anther, or a flower or a part thereof. Fruitsare particularly important plant parts. Such plant parts may be suitablefor sexual reproduction, vegetative reproduction, or a tissue culture.In another aspect, the plant part obtained from melon variety NUN 71560MEM is a cell, optionally a cell in a cell or tissue culture. That cellmay be grown into a plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides for a hybrid melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a cell culture of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM and a plant regenerated from melon variety NUN71560 MEM, wherein said plant has all the characteristics of the plantof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM when grown under the same environmentalconditions, as well as methods for culturing and regenerating melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM. Alternatively, a regenerated plant may have onecharacteristic that is different from melon variety NUN 71560 MEM andwhich otherwise has all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the plant of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

The disclosure also provides a vegetatively propagated plant of varietyNUN 71560 MEM having all or all but one, two, or three of themorphological and physiological characteristics of melon variety NUN71560 MEM when grown under the same environmental conditions as well asmethods for vegetatively propagating melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of producing a melonplant comprising crossing melon variety NUN 71560 MEM with itself orwith another melon variety and selecting a progeny melon plant from saidcrossing.

The disclosure also provides a method of producing a melon plant derivedfrom melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

In further aspect, the disclosure provides a method of producing ahybrid melon seed comprising crossing a first parent melon plant with asecond parent melon plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid melonseed, wherein said first parent melon plant or second parent melon plantis melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. Also provided is a hybrid melon seedproduced from crossing a first parent melon plant and second parentmelon plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid melon seed, wherein saidfirst parent melon plant or second parent melon plant is melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM. Moreover, the hybrid melon plant grown from the hybridmelon seed is provided.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of introducing asingle locus conversion into the plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM, whereina representative sample of seed of said melon variety has been depositedunder Accession Number NCIMB 44082, wherein the single locus convertedplant comprises the single locus conversion and otherwise has all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the plant of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for introducinga desired trait into melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, said method comprisestransforming the plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM with a transgene thatconfers the desired trait, wherein the transformed plant contains thedesired trait and otherwise has all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the plant of melon variety NUN 71560MEM.

The disclosure also provides a method of producing a modified melonplant with a desired trait, wherein the method comprises mutating amelon plant or plant part of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, wherein arepresentative sample of seed of said melon variety has been depositedunder Accession Number NCIMB 44082, and wherein the mutated plantcontains the desired trait and otherwise retains all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN71560 MEM.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of producing amodified melon, wherein said method comprises mutating a target gene bytargeted gene editing in melon plant or plant part of melon variety NUN71560 MEM, wherein the target gene modified a desired trait.

In one aspect, the single locus conversion or desired trait is malesterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism, modified protein metabolism, or ripening.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a container comprising theplant, plant part, or seed of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

Also provided is a food, a feed, or a processed product comprising aplant part of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, wherein the plant part is afruit or part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the fruit at edible maturity of melon variety NUN 71560MEM.

FIG. 2 shows the fruit comparison at edible maturity of melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety.

FIG. 3 shows the cross-section comparison at edible maturity of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety.

FIG. 4 shows the mature leaf comparison of melon variety NUN 71560 MEMand the Reference Variety.

DEFINITIONS

“Melon” or “muskmelon” refers herein to plants of the species Cucumismelo, and fruits thereof. The most commonly eaten part of a melon is thefruit or berry, also known as pepo. The fruit comprises exocarp,mesocarp, endocarp or seed cavity, hypanthium tissue and optionallyseed. Exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp or seed cavity, hypanthium tissue, andseed coat of the seed are maternal tissues, so they are geneticallyidentical to the plant on which they grow.

“Cultivated melon” refers to plants of Cucumis melo (e.g., varieties,breeding lines or cultivars of the species C. melo), cultivated byhumans and having good agronomic characteristics.

“Honey Dew melon” refers to a melon having a slightly oval shape, smoothgreenish to yellow skin, and has pale green flesh.

The terms “melon plant designated NUN 71560 MEM,” “NUN 71560 MEM,” “NUN71560,” “NUN 71560 F1,” “71560 MEM,” “melon 71560,” or “Snow560” areused interchangeably herein and refer to a melon plant of variety NUN71560 MEM, representative seed of which has been deposited underAccession Number NCIMB 44082.

A “seed of NUN 71560 MEM” refers to a melon seed which can be grown intoa plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM, wherein a representative sample ofviable seed has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 44082. Aseed can be in any stage of maturity, for example, a mature, viableseed, or an immature, non-viable seed. A seed comprises an embryo andmaternal tissues.

An “embryo of NUN 71560 MEM” refers to a “F1 hybrid embryo” as presentin a seed of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, a representative sample ofsaid seed has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 44082.

A “seed grown on NUN 71560 MEM” refers to a seed grown on a mature plantof variety NUN 71560 MEM or inside a fruit of melon variety NUN 71560MEM. The “seed grown on NUN 71560 MEM” contains tissues and DNA of thematernal parent, melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. The “seed grown on NUN71560 MEM” contains an F1 embryo.

A “fruit of NUN 71560 MEM” refers to a fruit containing maternal tissuesof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, as deposited under Accession NumberNCIMB 44082. In one aspect, the fruit contains seed grown on melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM. In another aspect, the fruit does not containseed, so the fruit is parthenocarpic. The skilled person is familiarwith methods for inducing parthenocarpy. Those methods comprisechemically or genetically inducing parthenocarpy. Compounds suitable forchemically inducing parthenocarpy comprise auxins, gibberellins andcytokinins. Methods for genetically inducing parthenocarpy comprise themethods described in US 2017/0335339, US 2017/0240913, and US2017/0071145. A fruit can be in any stage of maturity, for example, amature fruit in the yellow stage comprising viable seed, or an immaturefruit in the edible green stage comprising non-viable seed.

An “essentially homogeneous population of melon seed” is a population ofseeds where at least 97%, 98%, 99% or more of the total population ofseed are seeds of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

An “essentially homogeneous population of melon plants” is a populationof plants where at least 97%, 98%, 99% or more of the total populationof plants are plants of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

The phrase “essentially free from other seed” refers to a population ofseed where less than 3%, 2%, 1% or less of the total population of seedis seed that is not a melon seed or, in another aspect, less than 3%,2%, 1% or less of the total population of seed is seed that is not seedof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

“USDA descriptors” are the plant variety descriptors described for melonin the “Objective description of Variety- Muskmelon/Cantaloupe (Cucumismelo L.),” as published by the US Department of Agriculture,Agricultural Marketing Service, Plant Variety Protection Office (June2015) and which can be downloaded from the world-wide web atams.usda.gov/ under services/plant-variety-protection/pvpo-c-forms undermuskmelon. “Non-USDA descriptors” are other descriptors suitable fordescribing melon.

“UPOV descriptors” are the plant variety descriptors described for melonin the “Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for Distinctness, Uniformityand Stability, TG/104/5 (Geneva 2006, as last updated in 2019-10-29), aspublished by UPOV (International Union for the Protection of NewVarieties and Plants) and which can be downloaded from the world-wideweb at upov.int/edocs/tgdocs/en/tg104.pdf and is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety. Likewise, “UPOV methods” to determinespecific parameters for the characterization of melon are described atupov.int.

“Calibration book Cucumis melo L.” refers to the calibration book formelon which provides guidance for describing a melon variety, aspublished by Naktuinbow (December 2020, version 1) and based on the UPOVGuideline TG/104/5 and CPVO (Community Plant Variety Office) ProtocolCPVO-TP/104/2.

“RHS” or “RHS color chart” refers to the color chart of the RoyalHorticultural Society (UK), which publishes a botanical color chartquantitatively identifying colors by a defined numbering system. Thechart may be purchased from Royal Horticulture Society Enterprise Ltd.RHS Garden; Wisley, Woking; Surrey GU236QB, UK, e.g., the RHS colorchart 2007.

“Reference Variety for NUN 71560 MEM” refers herein to variety SummerDew, a commercial variety from Harris Moran, which have been planted ina trial together with melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. The characteristicsof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM were compared to the characteristics ofthe Reference Variety as shown in Tables 1 and 2. The distinguishingcharacteristics between melon variety NUN 16019 MEM and the ReferenceVariety are shown in Table 3.

“Plant” includes the whole plant or any part or derivatives thereof,preferably having the same genetic makeup as the plant from which it isobtained.

“Plant part” includes any part of a plant, such as a plant organ (e.g.,harvested or non-harvested fruits), a plant cell, a plant protoplast, aplant cell tissue culture or a tissue culture from which a whole plantcan be regenerated, a plant cell that is intact in a plant, a clone, amicropropagation, plant callus, a plant cell clump, a plant transplant,a vegetative propagation, a seedling, a fruit, a harvested fruit, a partof a fruit, a leaf, a part of a leaf, pollen, an ovule, an embryo, apetiole, a shoot or a part thereof, a stem or a part thereof, a root ora part thereof, a root tip, a cutting, a seed, a part of a seed, ahypocotyl, a cotyledon, a scion, a graft, a stock, a rootstock, apistil, an anther, or a flower or part thereof. Seed can be mature orimmature. Pollen or ovules may be viable or non-viable. Also, anydevelopmental stage is included, such as seedlings, cuttings prior orafter rooting, mature plants or leaves. Alternatively, a plant part mayalso include a plant seed which comprises maternal tissues of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM and an embryo having one or two sets ofchromosomes derived from the parent plant, e.g., from melon variety NUN71560 MEM. Such an embryo comprises two sets of chromosomes derived frommelon variety NUN 71560 MEM, if it is produced from self-pollination ofsaid variety, while an embryo derived from cross-fertilization of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM will comprise only one set of chromosomes fromsaid variety.

“Rootstock” or “stock” refers to the plant selected for its root system,in particular for the resistance of the roots to diseases or stress(e.g., heat, cold, salinity etc.). Generally, the quality of the fruitof the plant providing the rootstock is less important.

“Scion” refers to a part of the plant attached to the rootstock. Thisplant is selected for its stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits. The scioncontains the desired genes to be duplicated in future production by thestock/scion plant and may produce the desired melon fruit.

“Stock/scion” or “grafted plant” refers to a melon plant comprising arootstock from one plant grafted to a scion from another plant.

“Grafting” refers to attaching tissue from one plant to another plant sothat the vascular tissues of the two tissues join together. Grafting maybe done using methods known in the art like: 1) Tongue Approach/Approach Graft; 2) Hole Insertion/Terminal/Top Insertion Graft; 3) OneCotyledon/Slant/Splice/Tube Graft; and 4) Cleft/Side Insertion Graft.

“Flavor” refers to the sensory impression of a food or other substance,especially a melon fruit or fruit part (fruit flesh) and is determinedmainly by the chemical senses of taste and smell. Flavor is influencedby texture properties and by volatile and/or non-volatile chemicalcomponents (organic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, salts etc.).

“Aroma” refers to smell (or odor) characteristics of melon fruits orfruit parts (fruit flesh).

“Harvest maturity” is referred to as the stage at which a melon fruit isripe or ready for harvest or the optimal time to harvest the fruit forthe market, for processing or for consumption. In one aspect, harvestmaturity is the stage which allows proper completion of the normalripening.

“Harvested plant material” refers herein to plant parts (e.g., fruitsdetached from the whole plant), which have been collected for furtherstorage and/or further use.

“Yield” means the total weight of all melon fruits harvested per hectareof a particular line or variety. It is understood that “yield” expressedas weight of all melon fruits harvested per hectare can be obtained bymultiplying the number of plants per hectare times the “yield perplant.”

“Marketable yield” means the total weight of all marketable melonfruits, especially fruit which is not cracked, damaged or diseased,harvested per hectare of a particular line or variety. A “marketablefruit” is a fruit that has commercial value.

“Refractometer % of soluble solids” refers to the percentage of solublesolids in fruit juice. It is also expressed as °Brix and indicatessweetness. The majority of soluble solids in melon are mainly sugarspresent in the fruits of melon hence, the correlation with sweetness.Brix can be measured using a Brix meter (also known as Refractometer).

“Netted” skin or rind refers to the presence of reticulate markingscalled “netting” on the skin. “Non-netted” or “absence of netting”refers to the fruits lacking such netting.

“Ribbed” refers to grooves and raised parts, running approximatelystraight and parallel form from (near) blossom end to (near) abscissionend that are called “ribs.” “Non-ribbed” or “absence of ribbing” refersto the fruits lacking such ribs.

“Cavity” or “seed cavity” refers to the center of the fruit containingthe maternal tissues and seeds.

A plant having “all the physiological and morphological characteristics”of a referred-to-plant means a plant showing the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the referred-to-plant when grown underthe same environmental conditions, preferably in the same experiment;the referred-to-plant can be a plant from which it was derived, e.g.,the progeny plant, the progenitor plant, the parent, the recurrentparent, the plant used for tissue-or cell culture, etc. A physiologicalor morphological characteristic can be a numerical characteristic or anon-numerical characteristic. In one aspect, a plant has “all but one,two or three of the physiological and morphological characteristics” ofa referred-to-plant, or “all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics” of Tables 1 and 2 or “all or all but one, two or threeof the physiological and morphological characteristics” of Tables 1 and2.

The physiological and/or morphological characteristics mentioned aboveare commonly evaluated at significance levels of 1%, 5% or 10% if theyare numerical (quantitative), or for having an identical degree (ortype) if not numerical (not quantitative), if measured under the sameenvironmental conditions. For example, a progeny plant or a Single LocusConverted plant or a mutated plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM may have oneor more (or all) of the essential physiological and/or morphologicalcharacteristics of said variety listed in Tables 1 and 2, as determinedat the 5% significance level (i.e., p < 0.05), when grown under the sameenvironmental conditions.

“Distinguishing characteristics” or “distinguishing morphological and/orphysiological characteristics” refer herein to the characteristics whichdistinguish the new variety from other melon varieties, such as theReference Variety (i.e., are different), when grown under the sameenvironmental conditions. The distinguishing characteristics betweenmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety are describedherein and can be seed in Table 3. When comparing melon variety NUN71560 MEM to other varieties, the distinguishing characteristics may bedifferent. In one aspect, the distinguishing characteristics maytherefore include one, two, three or more (or all) of thecharacteristics listed in Tables 1 and 2. All numerical distinguishingcharacteristics are statistically significantly different at p < 0.05between melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the other variety (e.g., theReference Variety).

Melon variety NUN 71560 MEM has the following distinguishingcharacteristics when compared to the Reference Variety as shown in Table3, when determined at 5% significance level for numericalcharacteristics and determined by type or degree for non-numericalcharacteristics for plants grown under the same environmentalconditions.

-   1. early maturity cycle;-   2. dark green (RHS N137B) mature leaf color;-   3. longer mature leaf length;-   4. larger mature leaf width;-   5. longer mature leaf petiole length;-   6. dark intensity of green color of mature leaf;-   7. weak leaf blistering;-   8. absent or very sparse density of dots of young fruit;-   9. small size of dots of young fruit;-   10. weak contrast of dot color/ground color of young fruit;-   11. medium length of peduncle of young fruit;-   12. round shape of fruit at edible maturity;-   13. broad diameter of fruit at edible maturity;-   14. small to medium ratio of length/diameter of fruit at edible    maturity;-   15. circular shape in longitudinal section of fruit at edible    maturity;-   16. medium to large pistil scar of fruit at edible maturity;-   17. white rind color (RHS 155A) at edible maturity;-   18. yellow green flesh color (RHS 145D) near cavity at edible    maturity;-   19. yellow green flesh color (RHS 145D) in center at edible    maturity;-   20. yellow green flesh color (RHS 145D) near rind at edible    maturity;-   21. higher % soluble solids at edible maturity;-   22. less firm flesh (penetrometer reading);-   23. larger seed cavity width;-   24. medium intensity of cream yellow seed color;-   25. no resistance to Podosphaera xanthii Race 1;-   26. no resistance to Podosphaera xanthii Race 2;-   27. resistant to Podosphaera xanthii Race 5; and-   28. resistant to Aphis gossypii.

Thus, a melon plant “comprising the distinguishing characteristics ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM (such as a progeny plant) refers to a plantwhich does not differ significantly from said variety in thedistinguishing characteristics above. Therefore, in one aspect, thedisclosure provides a melon plant which does not differ significantlyfrom melon variety NUN 71560 MEM in the distinguishing characteristicsabove.

Similarity and differences between two different plant lines orvarieties can be determined by comparing the number of morphologicaland/or physiological characteristics (e.g., characteristics as listed inTables 1 and 2) that are the same (i.e., statistically not significantlydifferent) or that are different (i.e., statistically significantlydifferent) between the two plant lines or varieties using plants grownunder the same environmental conditions. A numerical characteristic isconsidered to be “the same” when the value for a numeric characteristicis not significantly different at the 1% (p < 0.01) or 5% (p < 0.05)significance level, using T-test, a standard method known to the skilledperson. Non-numerical or “degree” or “type” characteristic is considered“the same” when the values have the same “degree” or “type” when scoredusing USDA and/ or UPOV descriptors, if the plants are grown under thesame environmental conditions.

In one aspect, a statistical analysis of the quantitativecharacteristics showing the degree of significance may be provided.Statistical significance is the likelihood that a relationship betweentwo or more variables is caused by something other than chance, i.e.,that the differences in the means for quantitative characteristics ofthe plant of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety aresignificant due to chance. For the purpose of proving differences ordistinction between melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the ReferenceVariety, a p-value of 5% or 0.05 or lower is considered statisticallysignificant. This means that there is only a 5% probability that theobserved result could have happened just by chance or random variation.

The statistical analysis is drawn from a small sample of at least 15plants or plant parts of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the ReferenceVariety. Statistical points or parameters such as mean, minimum, median,maximum, and standard deviation are collected from the sample data toanalyze where the average is, how varied the data set is, and whetherthe data is skewed. For the purpose of determining whether the result ofthe data set is statistically significant, a T-Test is used, astatistical tool for proving significance in the means of the two groups(e.g., melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety) at 5%significance level (a p-value of 5% or 0.05).

The term “traditional breeding techniques” encompasses herein crossing,selfing, selection, doubled haploid production, embryo rescue,protoplast fusion, marker assisted selection, mutation breeding etc. asknown to the breeder (i.e., methods other than geneticmodification/transformation/transgenic methods), by which, for example,a genetically heritable trait can be transferred from one melon line orvariety to another.

“Variety” or “cultivar” means a plant grouping within a single botanicaltaxon of the lowest rank.

A “plant line” is, for example, a breeding line which can be used todevelop one or more varieties. A breeding line is typically highlyhomozygous.

“Harvested seeds” refer to seeds harvested from a line or variety, e.g.,produced after self-fertilization or cross-fertilization and collected.

“Hybrid variety” or “F1 hybrid” refers to the seeds harvested fromcrossing two inbred (nearly homozygous) parental lines. For example, thefemale parent is pollinated with pollen of the male parent to producehybrid (F1) seeds on the female parent.

“Locus” (plural loci) refers to the specific location, place or site ofa DNA sequence on a chromosome, where, for example, a gene or geneticmarker is found. A locus may confer a specific trait.

“Allele” refers to one or more alternative forms of a gene locus. All ofthese loci relate to one trait. Sometimes, different alleles can resultin different observable phenotypic traits, such as differentpigmentation. However, many variations at the genetic level result inlittle or no observable variation. If a multicellular organism has twosets of chromosomes, i.e., diploid, these chromosomes are referred to ashomologous chromosomes, i.e., diploid. Diploid organisms have one copyof each gene (and therefore one allele) on each chromosome. If bothalleles are the same, they are homozygotes. If the alleles aredifferent, they are heterozygotes.

“Genotype” refers to the genetic composition of a cell or organism.

“Phenotype” refers to the detectable characteristic of a plant, cell, ororganism, which characteristics are the manifestation of geneexpression.

“Haploid” refers to a cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

“Diploid” refers to a cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

“Triploid” refers to a cell or organism having three sets ofchromosomes.

“Tetraploid” refers to a cell or organism having four sets ofchromosomes.

“Polyploid” refers to a cell or organism having three or more completesets of chromosomes.

“Tissue culture” or “cell culture” refers to a composition comprisingisolated cells of the same or a different type or a collection of suchcells organized into parts of a plant. Tissue culture of melon andregeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published(see, e.g., Ren et al., In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.Plant (2013) 49:223-229;Colijn-Hooymans (1994), Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 39:211-217). Similarly, methods of preparing cell cultures are known in theart.

“Regeneration” refers to the development of a plant from cell culture ortissue culture or vegetative propagation.

“Vegetative propagation,” “vegetative reproduction,” or “clonalpropagation” are used interchangeably herein and mean a method of takinga plant part and inducing or allowing that plant part to form at leastroots, and also refer to the plant or plantlet obtained by that method.Optionally, the vegetative propagation is grown into a mature plant. Theskilled person is aware of what plant parts are suitable for use in themethod.

“Crossing” refers to the mating of two parent plants. The termencompasses “cross-pollination” and “selfing”.

“Selfing” refers to self-pollination of a plant, i.e., the transfer ofpollen from the anther to the stigma of the same plant.

“Cross-pollination” refers to the fertilization by the union of twogametes from different plants.

“Backcrossing” is a traditional breeding technique used to introduce atrait into a plant line or variety. The plant containing the trait iscalled the donor plant and the plant into which the trait is transferredis called the recurrent parent. An initial cross is made between thedonor parent and the recurrent parent to produce a progeny plant.Progeny plants which have the trait are then crossed to the recurrentparent. After several generations of backcrossing and/or selfing therecurrent parent comprises the trait of the donor. The plant generatedin this way may be referred to as a “single trait converted plant”. Thetechnique can also be used on a parental line of a hybrid.

“Progeny” as used herein refers to a plant obtained from a plantdesignated NUN 71560 MEM. A progeny may be obtained by regeneration ofcell culture or tissue culture or parts of a plant of said variety orselfing of a plant of said variety or by producing seeds of a plant ofsaid variety. In further aspects, progeny may also encompass plantsobtained from crossing of at least one plant of said variety withanother melon plant of the same variety or another variety or line, orwith wild melon plants. A progeny may comprise a mutation or atransgene. A “first generation progeny” is the progeny directly derivedfrom, obtained from, obtainable from or derivable from the parent plantby, e.g., traditional breeding methods (selfing and/orcross-pollinating) or regeneration (optionally combined withtransformation or mutation). Thus, a plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM isthe male parent, the female parent or both of a first generation progenyof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. Progeny may have all the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM whengrown under the same environmental conditions. Using methods such asbackcrossing, recurrent selection, mutation or transformation, one ormore specific characteristics may be introduced into said variety, toprovide or a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

The terms “gene converted” or “conversion plant” or “single locusconverted plant” in this context refer to melon plants which aredeveloped by traditional breeding techniques, e.g., backcrossing, or viagenetic engineering or through mutation breeding, wherein essentiallyall of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics ofthe parent variety or line are recovered, in addition to the one or morecharacteristics introduced into the parent via e.g., the backcrossingtechnique (optionally including reverse breeding or reverse synthesis ofbreeding lines). It is understood that not only the addition of afurther characteristic (e.g., addition of gene conferring a furthercharacteristic, such as a disease resistance gene), but also thereplacement/modification of an existing characteristic by a differentcharacteristic is encompassed herein (e.g., mutant allele of a gene canmodify the phenotype of a characteristic).

Likewise, a “Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant” refers to plantsdeveloped by plant breeding techniques comprising or consisting ofmutation breeding and/or by genetic transformation and/or by traditionalbreeding techniques, such as backcrossing, wherein essentially all ofthe desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a melonvariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus having been transferred into the - variety via abovementionedtechnique, or wherein the morphological and physiological characteristicof the variety has been replaced/modified in the variety. In case of ahybrid, the gene may be introduced, or modified, in the male or femaleparental line.

“Transgene” or “chimeric” gene” refers to a genetic locus comprising aDNA sequence which has been introduced into the genome of the plant bytransformation. A plant comprising a transgene stably integrated intoits genome is referred to as “transgenic plant.”

As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” are usedinterchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms orsignificantly reduced symptoms to a specified biotic pest, pathogen,abiotic influence or environmental condition compared to a susceptibleplant. These terms are optionally also used to describe plants showingsome symptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product withan acceptable yield.

“Average” refers herein to the arithmetic mean.

The term “mean” refers to the arithmetic mean of several measurements.The skilled person understands that the appearance of a plant depends tosome extent on the growing conditions of said plant. The mean, if notindicated otherwise within this application, refers to the arithmeticmean of measurements on at least 15 different, randomly selected plantsof a variety or line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to a plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM, wherein arepresentative sample of seeds of said variety has been deposited underthe Budapest Treaty, with Accession Number NCIMB 44082. NUN 71560 MEM isa Honey Dew melon variety and is suitable for growing in the open field.

In another aspect, melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, or a part thereof, or aprogeny thereof, comprises resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.melonis Race 0 and Race 2, Podosphaera xanthii Race 5, and Aphisgossypii, measured according to UPOV standards described in TG/104/5.

The disclosure also provides a melon plant or part thereof having all ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM when grown under the same environmentalconditions.

The disclosure also provides a plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM, or a partthereof, or a progeny plant thereof, comprising all of the followingmorphological and/or physiological characteristics (i.e., averagevalues, as indicated on the USDA Objective description of variety -melon (unless indicated otherwise)) as shown in Tables 1 and 2, wherethe characteristics are determined at the 5% significance level forplants grown under the same environmental conditions. A part of thisplant is also provided.

The disclosure further provides a melon plant which does not differ fromthe physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant ofvariety NUN 71560 MEM as determined at the 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% or 5%significance level when grown under the same environmental conditions.In a particular aspect, the plants are measured in the same trial (e.g.,the trial is conducted as recommended by the USDA or UPOV). Thedisclosure also comprises a part of said plant, preferably a fruit orpart thereof.

The disclosure further relates to a melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, whichwhen compared to its Reference Variety has the following distinguishingcharacteristics as shown in Table 3, when determined at 5% significancelevel for numerical characteristics and determined by type or degree fornon-numerical characteristics for plants grown under the sameenvironmental conditions.

-   1. early maturity cycle;-   2. dark green (RHS N137B) mature leaf color;-   3. longer mature leaf length;-   4. larger mature leaf width;-   5. longer mature leaf petiole length;-   6. dark intensity of green color of mature leaf;-   7. weak leaf blistering;-   8. absent or very sparse density of dots of young fruit;-   9. small size of dots of young fruit;-   10. weak contrast of dot color/ground color of young fruit;-   11. medium length of peduncle of young fruit;-   12. round shape of fruit at edible maturity;-   13. broad diameter of fruit at edible maturity;-   14. small to medium ratio of length/diameter of fruit at edible    maturity;-   15. circular shape in longitudinal section of fruit at edible    maturity;-   16. medium to large pistil scar of fruit at edible maturity;-   17. white rind color (RHS 155A) at edible maturity;-   18. yellow green flesh color (RHS 145D) near cavity at edible    maturity;-   19. yellow green flesh color (RHS 145D) in center at edible    maturity;-   20. yellow green flesh color (RHS 145D) near rind at edible    maturity;-   21. higher % soluble solids at edible maturity;-   22. less firm flesh (penetrometer reading);-   23. larger seed cavity width;-   24. medium intensity of cream yellow seed color;-   25. no resistance to Podosphaera xanthii Race 1;-   26. no resistance to Podosphaera xanthii Race 2;-   27. resistant to Podosphaera xanthii Race 5; and-   28. resistant to Aphis gossypii.

The morphological and/or physiological differences between two differentindividual plants described herein (e.g., between melon variety NUN71560 MEM and a progeny of said variety) or between a plant of varietyNUN 71560 MEM, or progeny of said variety, or a plant having all, or allbut 1, 2, or 3, of the physiological and morphological characteristicsof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and another known variety can easily beestablished by growing said variety under the same environmentalconditions (in the same field, optionally next to each other),preferably repeated in several locations which are suitable forcultivation of melons, and measuring the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of a representative number of plants (e.g., to calculatean average value and to determine the variation range/uniformity withinthe variety). For example, trials can be carried out in Acampo CA, USA(N 38 degrees 07′261″ / W 121 degrees 18′ 807″, USA), whereby variouscharacteristics, for example, maturity, days from seeding to harvest,plant fertility, plant habit, leaf shape, leaf lobes, leaf color, maturefruit length, mature fruit shape, mature fruit color, blossom scar,shipping quality, ribs presence, fruit abscission, rind net, rindtexture, flesh color, flavor, aroma, disease resistance, insectresistance, can be measured and directly compared for species of melon.

Also, at-harvest and/or post-harvest characteristics of fruits can becompared, such as cold storage holding quality, post-harvest fleshfirmness, and Brix can be measured using known methods. (Fruit) Fleshfirmness can, for example, be measured using a penetrometer, e.g., byinserting a probe into the fruit flesh and determining the insertionforce, or by other methods. Fruit flesh firmness can for example bemeasured using a “FT 327 Penetrometer”, available from QA Supplies LLC,1185 Pineridge Road, Norfolk, VA 23502.

Thus, the disclosure comprises a melon plant having one, two, or threephysiological and/or morphological characteristics which are differentfrom those of the plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM and which otherwise hasall the physiological and morphological characteristics of said variety,e.g., determined at 5% significance level for quantitativecharacteristics and determined by type or degree for non-quantitativecharacteristics, when grown under the same environmental conditions. Inone aspect, the different characteristic(s) is/are a result of breedingwith melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and selection of a progeny plantcomprising one, two, or three characteristics which are different thanin melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. In another aspect, the differentcharacteristic is the result of a mutation (e.g., spontaneous mutationof a human induced mutation through, e.g., targeted mutagenesis ortraditional mutagenesis such as chemically or radiation inducedmutagenesis) or it is a result of transformation.

The disclosure also relates to a seed of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM,wherein a representative sample of said seed has been deposited underthe Budapest Treaty, with Accession Number NCIMB 44082.

In another aspect, a seed of hybrid variety NUN 71560 MEM is obtainableby crossing the male parent of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM with thefemale parent of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and harvesting the seedsproduced on the female parent. The resultant seeds of said variety canbe grown to produce plants of said variety.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a plant grown from a seed ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM and plant part thereof.

The disclosure also provides a melon fruit produced on a plant grownfrom a seed of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides for a plant part of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM, preferably a fruit or part thereof, arepresentative sample of seed of said melon variety has been depositedunder Accession Number NCIMB 44082.

Also provided is a plant of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, or a fruit orother plant part thereof, produced from a seed, wherein a representativesample of said seeds has been deposited under the Budapest Treaty, withAccession Number NCIMB 44082.

Also provided is a plant part obtained from variety NUN 71560 MEM,wherein said plant part is a fruit, a harvested fruit, a part of afruit, a leaf, a part of a leaf, pollen, an ovule, a cell, a petiole, ashoot or a part thereof, a stem or a part thereof, a root or a partthereof, a root tip, a cutting, a seed, a part of a seed, seed coat oranother maternal tissue which is part of a seed grown on said variety, ahypocotyl, cotyledon, a scion, a stock, a rootstock, a pistil, ananther, and a flower or a part thereof. Such plant parts may be suitablefor sexual reproduction (e.g., a pollen, a flower, an ovary, an ovule,an embryo, etc.), vegetative reproduction (e.g., a cutting, a root, astem, a cell, a protoplast, a leaf, a cotyledon, a meristem, etc.) ortissue culture (e.g., a leaf, a pollen, an embryo, a cotyledon, ahypocotyl, a cell, a root, a root tip, an anther, a flower, a seed, astem, etc.). Fruits are particularly important plant parts. Fruits maybe parthenocarpic, or seedless, or contain immature or nonviable seeds,or contain viable seeds.

In a further aspect, the plant part obtained from melon variety NUN71560 MEM is a cell, optionally a cell in a cell or tissue culture. Thatcell may be grown into a plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM. A part of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM (or of a progeny of that variety or of a planthaving all physiological and/or morphological characteristics but one,two or three of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM) further encompasses anycells, tissues, organs obtainable from the seedlings or plants in anystage of maturity.

The disclosure also provides a tissue or cell culture comprising cellsof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. Such a tissue culture can, for example,be grown on plates or in liquid culture, or be frozen for long termstorage. The cells of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM are used to start theculture can be selected from any plant partsuitable for vegetativereproduction, or in a particular aspect, can be cells of an embryo,meristem, a cotyledon, a hypocotyl, pollen, a leaf, an anther, a root, aroot tip, a pistil, a petiole, a flower, a fruit, seed or a stem. Inanother particular aspect, the tissue culture does not containsomaclonal variation or has reduced somaclonal variation. The skilledperson is familiar with methods to reduce or prevent somaclonalvariation, including regular reinitiation.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a melon plant regeneratedfrom the tissue or cell culture of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, whereinthe regenerated plant is not significantly different from melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM, in all, or all but one, two or three, of thephysiological and morphological characteristics, e.g., determined at 5%significance level for numerical characteristics and determined by typeor degree for non-numerical characteristics when grown under the sameenvironmental conditions. Optionally, the plant has one, two, or threeof the physiological and morphological characteristics that are affectedby a mutation or by transformation. In another aspect, the disclosureprovides a melon plant regenerated from the tissue or cell culture ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM, wherein the plant has all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of said variety, e.g.,determined at 5% significance level for numerical characteristics anddetermined by type or degree for non-numerical characteristics whengrown under the same environmental conditions. Similarity or differenceof a characteristic is determined by measuring that characteristics on arepresentative number of plants grown under the same environmentalconditions, determining whether type/degree characteristics are the sameand determining whether numerical characteristics are different at the5% significance level.

Melon variety NUN 71560 MEM or its progeny, or a plant having allphysiological and/or morphological characteristics but one, two or threewhich are different from those of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, can alsobe reproduced using vegetative reproduction methods. Therefore, thedisclosure provides for a method of producing a plant, or a plant part,of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, comprising vegetative propagation ofsaid variety. Vegetative propagation comprises regenerating a wholeplant from a plant part of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, or from aprogeny or from or a plant having all physiological and/or morphologicalcharacteristics of said variety but one, two, or three differentcharacteristics, such as a cutting, a cell culture, or a tissue culture.

The disclosure also provides methods of vegetatively propagating a partof the plant of the variety NUN 71560 MEM. In certain aspects, themethod comprises: (a) cultivating tissue or cells capable of beingpropagated from melon variety NUN 71560 MEM to obtain proliferatedshoots; and (b) rooting said proliferated shoots, to obtain rootedplantlets. Steps (a) and (b) may also be reversed, i.e., firstcultivating said tissue to obtain roots and then cultivating the tissueto obtain shoots, thereby obtaining rooted plantlets. The rootedplantlets may then be further grown, to obtain plants. In one aspect,the method further comprises step (c) growing plants from said rootedplantlets. Therefore, the method also comprises regenerating a wholeplant from a part of the plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM. In a particularaspect, the part of the plant to be propagated is a cutting, a cellculture or a tissue culture.

The disclosure also provides for a vegetatively propagated plant ofvariety NUN 71560 MEM (or from progeny of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM,or from a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/ormorphological characteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM), whereinthe plant has all of the morphological and physiological characteristicsof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, e.g., determined at 5% significancelevel for numerical characteristics and determined by type or degree fornon-numerical characteristics when grown under the same environmentalconditions. In another aspect, the propagated plant has all but one,two, or three of the morphological and physiological characteristics ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM, e.g., determined at 5% significance levelfor numerical characteristics and determined by type or degree fornon-numerical characteristics when grown under the same environmentalconditions. A part of said propagated plant or said propagated plantwith one, two or three differences is also provided. In another aspect,the propagated plant has all or all but 1, 2, or 3 of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM (e.g.,as listed in Tables 1 and 2).

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for producing amelon plant part, such as a fruit, comprising growing a plant of varietyNUN 71560 MEM until it sets at least one fruit, and collecting thefruit. Preferably, the fruit is collected at harvest maturity. Inanother aspect, the fruit is collected when the seed is ripe. In aparticular aspect, all fruits on a truss can be harvested together. Inanother particular aspect, all fruit on a melon plant can be harvestedat the same time. In other aspects, the disclosure provides for a fruitof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

In another aspect, a plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM can be produced byseeding directly in the soil (e.g., the field) or by germinating theseeds in a controlled environment (e.g., greenhouses) and optionallythen transplanting the seedlings into the field (see, e.g., Mayberry,et. al., University of California Division of Agriculture and NaturalResources, Publication 7209, 1-3). For example, a seed is sown into aprepared seed bed in a field where the plant remains for its entirelife. Alternatively, the melon seed may be planted through a blackplastic mulch. The dark plastic will absorb heat from the sun, warmingthe soil early. It will also help to conserve moisture during thegrowing season, controls weeds, and makes harvesting easier and cleaner(see, e.g., Hartz et. al., University of California Division ofAgriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 7218, 1-4). Melon canalso be grown entirely in greenhouses.

In another aspect, the plant and plant parts of melon variety NUN 71560MEM and progeny of said variety are provided, e.g., grown from seeds,produced by sexual or vegetative reproduction, regenerated from theabove-described plant parts, or regenerated from cell or tissue cultureof the melon variety NUN 71560 MEM in which the reproduced (seedpropagated or vegetatively propagated) plant has all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN71560 MEM, e.g., listed in Tables 1 and 2. In one aspect, said progenyof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM can be modified in one, two, or threecharacteristics, in which the modification is a result of mutagenesis ortransformation with a transgene.

In other aspects, the disclosure provides a progeny plant of variety NUN71560 MEM such as a progeny plant obtained by further breeding with saidvariety. Further breeding with melon variety NUN 71560 MEM includesselfing that variety and/or cross-pollinating said variety with anothermelon plant one or more times. In a particular aspect, the disclosureprovides for a progeny plant that retains all of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, optionallyall or all but one, two or three of the characteristics as listed inTables 1 and 2, determined at the 5% significance level for numericalcharacteristics, when grown under the same environmental conditions. Inanother aspect, the progeny is a first generation progeny, i.e., theovule or the pollen (or both) used in the crossing is an ovule or pollenof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, where the pollen comes from an anther ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the ovule comes from an ovary of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM.

In still another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of producing amelon plant, comprising crossing a plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM with asecond melon plant at least once, allowing seed to develop andoptionally harvesting said progeny seed. The skilled person can selectprogeny from said crossing. Optionally, the progeny (grown from theprogeny seed) is crossed twice, thrice, or four, five, six or seventimes, and allowed to set seed. In one aspect, the first “crossing”further comprises planting seeds of a first and a second parent melonplant, often in proximity so that pollination will occur; for example,mediated by insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferredmanually. Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occurwithout the need for direct human intervention other than plantcultivation. After pollination the plant can produce seed.

The disclosure also provides a method for collecting pollen of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM, comprising collecting pollen from a plant ofvariety NUN 71560 MEM. Alternatively, the method comprises growing plantof variety NUN 71560 MEM until at least one flower of said varietycontains pollen and collecting the pollen. In a particular aspect, thepollen is collected when it is mature or ripe. A suitable method forcollecting pollen comprises collecting anthers or the part of the antherthat contains pollen, for example, by cutting the anther or the part ofthe anther off. Pollen can be collected in a container. Optionally,collected pollen can be used to pollinate a melon flower.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of producing amelon plant, comprising selfing melon variety NUN 71560 MEM one or moretimes, and selecting a progeny melon plant from said selfing. In oneaspect, the progeny plant retains all or all but one, two or three ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN71560 MEM, when grown under the same environmental conditions. In adifferent aspect, the progeny plant comprises all of the physiologicaland morphological characteristic of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM ofTables 1 and 2.

The disclosure also provides a method for developing a melon plant in amelon breeding program, using melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, or its partsas a source of plant breeding material. Suitable plant breedingtechniques are recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding,mass selection, mutation breeding and/or genetic marker enhancedselection. In one aspect, the method comprises crossing melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM, or its respective progeny, or a plant comprising all but1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM (e.g., as listed inTables 1 and 2) with a different melon plant, and wherein one or moreoffspring of the crossing are subject to one or more plant breedingtechniques: recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, massselection, mutation breeding and genetic marker enhanced selection (see,e.g., Vidavsky and Czosnek, (1998) Phytopathology 88(9): 910-4). Forbreeding methods in general, see, e.g., Principles of Plant Genetics andBreeding, 2007, George Acquaah, Blackwell Publishing, ISBN-13:978-1-4051-3646-4.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides for a method of producinga new melon plant comprising crossing a plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM,or a plant comprising all but one, two, or three of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM (aslisted in Tables 1 and 2), or a progeny plant thereof, either as male oras female parent, with a second melon plant (or a wild relative ofmelon) one or more times, and/or selfing melon plant variety NUN 71560MEM, or a progeny plant thereof, one or more time, and selecting aprogeny melon plant from said crossing and/or selfing. The second melonplant may, for example, be a line or variety of the species Cucumismelo, or other Cucumis species or even other Cucurbitacea species.

In a further aspect, melon variety NUN 71560 MEM is used in crosses withother, different, melon varieties to produce first generation (F1) melonhybrid seeds and plants with superior characteristics. In a particularaspect, the disclosure provides a melon seed and a plant produced bycrossing a first parent melon plant with a second parent melon plant,wherein at least one of the first or second parent melon plant is melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM. In another aspect, the melon seed and plantproduced are the first filial generation (F1) melon seed and plantsproduced by crossing the plant of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM withanother melon plant.

The morphological and physiological characteristics of melon variety NUN71560 MEM are provided in Tables 1 and 2, as collected in a trialaccording to USDA and/or UPOV standards. Encompassed herein is also aplant obtainable from melon variety NUN 71560 MEM (e.g., by selfingand/or crossing and/or backcrossing with said variety and/or progeny ofsaid variety) comprising all or all but one, two, or three of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN71560 MEM listed in Tables 1 and 2, e.g., determined at 5% significancelevel for numerical characteristics and determined by type or degree fornon-numerical characteristics when grown under the same environmentalconditions and/or comprising one or more (or all; or all except one,two, or three) characteristics when grown under the same environmentalconditions. The morphological and/or physiological characteristics mayvary somewhat with variation in the environment (e.g., temperature,light intensity, day length, humidity, soil, fertilizer use, diseasevectors), which is why a comparison under the same environmentalconditions is preferred. Colors can best be measured using the RoyalHorticultural Society (RHS) Chart.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of producing a plantderived from melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, comprising crossing a plant ofvariety NUN 71560 MEM, either as a male or female parent with a secondplant or selfing melon variety NUN 71560 MEM or vegetative reproductionof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, and collecting seeds from said crossingor selfing or regenerating a whole plant from the vegetable cell-ortissue culture. Also provided are seeds and/or plants obtained by thismethod. All plants produced using melon variety NUN 71560 MEM as aparent are within the scope of the disclosure, including plant partsderived from melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

In a further aspect, the method comprises growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration with itself or a second plant and repeating the steps foradditional 3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM. The plant derived from melon variety NUN 71560MEM may be an inbred line and the aforementioned repeating crossingsteps may be defined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce theinbred line. By selecting plants having one or more desirable traits ofthe line as well as potentially other selected traits.

The disclosure provides for methods of producing a plant which retainall the morphological and physiological characteristics of the plantdescribed herein. The disclosure also provides for methods of producinga plant comprising all but 1, 2, 3 or more of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM (e.g., aslisted in Tables 1 and 2), but which are still genetically closelyrelated to said variety. The relatedness can, for example, be determinedby fingerprinting techniques (e.g., making use of isozyme markers and/ormolecular markers such as Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers,amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, microsatellites,minisatellites, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers,restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers and others). Aplant is “closely related” to melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, if its DNAfingerprint is at least 80%, 90%, 95% or 98% identical to thefingerprint of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. In a particular aspect, AFLPmarkers are used for DNA fingerprinting (see, e.g., Vos et al. 1995,Nucleic Acid Research 23: 4407-4414). A closely related plant may have aJaccard’s Similarity index of at least about 0.8, preferably at leastabout 0.9, 0.95, 0.98 or more (see, e.g., Parvathaneni et al., J. CropSci. Biotech. 2011 (March) 14 (1): 39-43). The disclosure also providesa plant obtained or selected by applying these methods on melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM. Such a plant may be produced by traditional breedingtechniques, or mutation or transformation or in another aspect, a plantmay simply be identified and selected amongst plants of said variety, orprogeny of said variety, e.g., by identifying a variant of melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM, which variant differs from the variety described hereinin one, two or three of the morphological and/or physiologicalcharacteristics (e.g., characteristics listed in Tables 1 and 2). In oneaspect, the disclosure provides a plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM havinga Jaccard’s Similarity index with said variety of at least 0.8, e.g., atleast 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 0.98 or even at least 0.99.

In some aspects, the disclosure provides a melon plant comprisinggenomic DNA having at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identitycompared to the genomic DNA sequence of a plant of variety NUN 71560 MEMas to be deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 44082. In some aspects,the melon plant further comprises all or all but 1, 2, or 3 of themorphological and physiological characteristics of melon variety NUN71560 MEM (e.g., as listed in Tables 1 and 2). In other aspects, themelon plant is a hybrid derived from a seed or plant of variety NUN71560 MEM.

For the purpose of this disclosure, the “sequence identity” ofnucleotide sequences, expressed as a percentage, refers to the number ofpositions in the two optimally aligned sequences which have identicalresidues (×100) divided by the number of positions compared. A gap,i.e., a position in the pairwise alignment where a residue is present inone sequence but not in the other, is regarded as a position withnon-identical residues. A pairwise global sequence alignment of twonucleotide sequences is found by aligning the two sequences over theentire length according to the Needleman and Wunsch global alignmentalgorithm described in Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol.48(3):443-53). A full implementation of the Needleman-Wunsch globalalignment algorithm is found in the needle program in The EuropeanMolecular Biology Open Software Suite (see, e.g., EMBOSS, Rice et al.,Trends in Genetics June 2000, vol. 16, No. 6. pp. 276-277).

In another aspect, the plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM may also bemutated (by e.g., irradiation, chemical mutagenesis, heat treatment,etc.) and mutated seeds or plants may be selected in order to change oneor more characteristics of said variety. Methods such as TILLING(Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes) may be applied topopulations in order to identify mutants.

Similarly, melon variety NNUN 71560 MEM may be transformed andregenerated, whereby one or more chimeric genes are introduced into thevariety or into a plant comprising all but 1, 2, 3, or more of themorphological and physiological characteristics (e.g., as listed inTables 1 and 2). Many useful traits can be introduced into melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM by e.g., crossing melon variety NUN 71560 MEM with atransgenic melon plant comprising a desired transgene, as well as bydirectly introducing a transgene into melon variety NUN 71560 MEM bygenetic transformation techniques.

Any pest or disease resistance genes may be introduced into melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM, progeny of said variety or into a plantcomprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM (e.g., aslisted in Tables 1 and 2). Resistance to one or more of the followingdiseases or pests may be introduced into plants described herein:Bacterial Wilt, Root Rot, Crown Blight, Melon Rust, Podosphaera xanthii(Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 1, Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerothecafuliginea) race 2, Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 3,Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 5, Golovinomycescichoracearum (Erysiphe cichoracearum) race 1, Verticillum Wilt, SulphurBurn, Scab, Downy Mildew, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 0,Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 1, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.melonis race 2, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 1-2, Fusarium WiltR2, Root Knot (Nematode), Anthracnose, Aphid, Pickle Worm, DarklingGround Beetle, Banded Cucumber Beetle, Mite, Western Spotted CucumberBeetle, Melon Leafhopper, Melon Worm, Western Striped Cucumber Beetleand/or Melon Leaf miner. Other resistances, against pathogenic viruses,e.g., Melon Necrotic Spot Virus (MNSV) resistance, Cucumber Mosaic Virus(CMV), Zuchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV), Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV),Watermelon Mosaic Virus (WMV), Squash Mosaic Virus (SMV), Tomato LeafCurl New Delhi Virus (ToLCNDV)), Cucumber Yellow Stunting Disorder Virus(CYSDV), fungi, bacteria, nematodes, insects, or other pests may also beintroduced, or other traits such as Melon Yellowing associated Virus(MYaV) and Whitefly resistances.

Genetic transformation may, therefore, be used to insert a selectedtransgene into the melon plants of the disclosure described herein ormay, alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenic melonplants which can be used as a source of the transgene(s), which can beintroduced into melon variety NUN 71560 MEM by e.g., backcrossing. Agenetic trait which has been engineered into the genome of a particularmelon plant may then be moved into the genome of another melon plant(e.g., another variety) using traditional breeding techniques which arewell known in the art. For example, backcrossing is commonly used tomove a transgene from a transformed melon variety into an alreadydeveloped melon variety and the resulting backcross conversion plantwill then comprise the transgene(s).

Any DNA sequences, whether from a different species or from the samespecies, which are inserted into the genome using transformation, arereferred to herein collectively as “transgenes.” A “transgene” alsoencompasses antisense, or sense and antisense sequences capable of genesilencing. Thus, the disclosure also relates to transgenic plants ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM. In some aspects, a transgenic plant ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM may contain at least one transgene but couldalso contain at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or more transgenes.

Plant transformation involves the construction of an expression vectorwhich will function in plant cells. Such a vector comprises DNAcomprising a gene under control of, or operatively linked to aregulatory element active in plant cells (e.g., promoter). Theexpression vector may contain one or more such operably linkedgene/regulatory element combinations. The vector may be in the form of aplasmid and can be used alone or in combination with other plasmids toprovide transformed melon plants using transformation methods toincorporate transgenes into the genetic material of the melon plant(s).Transformation can be carried out using standard methods, such asAgrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation, electroporation,biolistics particle delivery system, or microprojectile bombardment,followed by selection of the transformed cells and regeneration intoplants.

Plants can also be genetically engineered, modified, or manipulated toexpress various phenotypes of horticultural interest. Through thetransformation of melon, the expression of genes can be altered toenhance disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicide resistance,stress tolerance, horticultural quality, and other traits.Transformation can also be used to insert DNA sequences which control orhelp control male sterility or fertility restoration. DNA sequencesnative to melon as well as non-native DNA sequences can be transformedinto melon and used to alter levels of native or non-native proteins.Various promoters, targeting sequences, enhancing sequences, and otherDNA sequences can be inserted into the genome for the purpose ofaltering the expression of proteins. Reduction of the specific activityof specific genes (also known as gene silencing or gene suppression) isdesirable for several aspects of genetic engineering in plants.

Genome editing is another method recently developed to geneticallyengineer plants. Specific modification of chromosomal loci or targetedmutation can be done through sequence-specific nucleases (SSNs) byintroducing a targeted DNA double strand break in the locus to bealtered. Examples of SSNs that have been applied to plants are: fingernucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs), engineered homing endonucleases or meganucleases, andclustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9), see, e.g., Songstad, et.al., Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 2017, 36:1, 1-23.

Thus, the disclosure provides a method of producing a melon plant havinga desired trait comprising mutating the plant or plant part melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM, and selecting a plant comprising the desiredtrait, wherein the mutated plant contains the desired trait andotherwise retains all or all but one, two or three of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM,optionally as described for each variety in Tables 1 and 2, and whereina representative sample of seed of said variety has been deposited underAccession Number NCIMB 44082. In a further aspect, the desired trait isyield, storage properties, color, flavor, size, firmness, enhancednutritional quality, post-harvest quality, male sterility, herbicidetolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance,environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism,modified metabolism, or ripening, or the mutation occurs in the intensegene.

The disclosure also provides a method for inducing a mutation in melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM, comprising:

-   a. exposing the seed, plant or plant part or cell of melon variety    NUN 71560 MEM to a mutagenic compound or to radiation, wherein a    representative sample of seed of said melon variety has been    deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 44082;-   b. selecting the seed, plant or plant part or cell of melon variety    NUN 71560 MEM having a mutation; and-   c. optionally growing and/or multiplying the seed, plant or plant    part or cell of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM having the mutation.

The disclosure also provides a method of producing a melon plant havinga desired trait, wherein the method comprises transforming the melonplant with a transgene that confers the desired trait, wherein thetransformed plant contains the desired trait and otherwise retains allof the physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant ofvariety NUN 71560 MEM. Thus, a transgenic melon plant is provided whichis produced by the method described above, wherein the plant otherwisehas all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of theplant of variety NUN 71560 MEM and the desired trait.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of producing aprogeny of plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM further comprising a desiredtrait, said method comprising transforming the plant of melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM with at least one transgene that confers the desired traitand/or crossing the plant of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM with atransgenic melon plant comprising a desired transgene so that thegenetic material of the progeny that resulted from the cross containsthe desired transgene(s). Also encompassed is the progeny produced bythis method.

A desired trait (e.g., gene(s) conferring pest or disease resistance, ortolerance for protection, etc.) can be introduced into melon variety NUN71560 MEM, or progeny of said variety, by transforming said variety orprogeny of said variety with a transgene that confers the desired trait,wherein the transformed plant retains all or all but one, two or threeof the morphological and/or physiological characteristics of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM, or the progeny of said variety, and contains thedesired trait. In another aspect, the transformation or mutation confersa trait wherein the trait is yield, storage properties, color, flavor,size, male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pestresistance, disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism, modified protein metabolism, ripening, or themutation occurs in the intense gene. In a particular aspect, thespecific transgene may be any known in the art or listed herein,including, a polynucleotide sequence conferring resistance toimidazolinone, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, triazine,benzonitrile, cyclohexanedione, phenoxy proprionic acid andL-phosphinothricin or a polynucleotide conferring resistance toBacterial Wilt, Root Rot, Crown Blight, Melon Rust, Podosphaera xanthii(Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 1, Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerothecafuliginea) race 2, Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 3,Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 5, Golovinomycescichoracearum (Erysiphe cichoracearum) race 1, Verticillum Wilt, SulphurBurn, Scab, Downy Mildew, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 0,Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 1, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.melonis race 2, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 1-2, Fusarium WiltR2, Root Knot (Nematode), Anthracnose, Aphid, Pickle Worm, DarklingGround Beetle, Banded Cucumber Beetle, Mite, Western Spotted CucumberBeetle, Melon Leafhopper, Melon Worm, Western Striped Cucumber Beetleand/or Melon Leafminer. Other resistance genes, against pathogenicviruses, e.g., Melon Necrotic Spot Virus (MNSV) resistance, CucumberMosaic Virus (CMV), Zuchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV), Papaya RingspotVirus (PRSV), Watermelon Mosaic Virus (WMV), Squash Mosaic Virus (SMV),Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus (ToLCNDV), Cucumber Yellow StuntingDisorder Virus (CYSDV), fungi, bacteria, nematodes, insects, or otherpests may also be introduced, or other traits such as Melon Yellowingassociated Virus (MYaV) and Whitefly resistances.

By crossing and/or selfing, (one or more) single traits may beintroduced into melon variety NUN 71560 MEM (e.g., using backcrossingbreeding schemes), while retaining the remaining morphological andphysiological characteristics of said variety and/or while retaining oneor more or all distinguishing characteristics. A single trait convertedplant may thereby be produced. For example, disease resistance genes maybe introduced, genes responsible for one or more quality traits, yield,etc. Both single genes (e.g., dominant or recessive) and one or moreQTLs (quantitative trait loci) may be transferred into melon variety NUN71560 MEM by breeding with said variety.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of introducing asingle locus conversion or single trait conversion or a desired traitinto melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, comprising introducing a single locusconversion, single trait conversion, or a desired trait in at least oneof the parents of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, and crossing theconverted parent with the other parent of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM toobtain seed of said variety.

In another aspect, the step of introducing a single locus conversion,single trait conversion, or a desired trait in at least one of theparent plants comprises:

-   a. crossing the parental line of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM with a    second melon plant comprising the single locus conversion, the    single trait conversion, or the desired trait;-   b. selecting F1 progeny plants that comprise the single locus    conversion, the single trait conversion, or the desired trait;-   c. crossing said selected progeny plants of step b) with the    parental line of step a), to produce a backcross progeny plant;-   d. selecting backcross progeny plants comprising the single locus    conversion, the single trait conversion, or the desired trait and    otherwise all or all but one, two or three of the morphological and    physiological characteristics the parental line of step a) to    produce selected backcross progeny plants; and-   e. optionally repeating steps c) and d) one or more times in    succession to produce selected second, third or fourth or higher    backcross progeny plants comprising the single locus conversion, the    single trait conversion, or the desired trait and otherwise all or    all but one, two or three of the morphological and physiological    characteristics the parental line of step a) to produce selected    backcross progeny plants, when grown in the same environmental    conditions.

The disclosure further relates to plants obtained by this method.

Alternatively, a single trait converted plant or single locus convertedplant may be produced by:

-   a. obtaining a cell or tissue culture of cells of melon variety NUN    71560 MEM;-   b. genetically transforming or mutating said cells;-   c. growing the cells into a plant; and-   d. optionally selecting the plant that contains the single locus    conversion, the single trait conversion, or the desired trait.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of introducing asingle locus conversion or single trait conversion or a desired traitinto melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, comprising:

-   a. obtaining a combination of a parental lines of melon variety NUN    71560 MEM, optionally through reverse synthesis of breeding lines;-   b. introducing a single locus conversion, a single trait conversion,    or a desired trait in at least one of the parents of step a); and-   c. crossing the converted parent with the other parent of step a) to    obtain seed of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

In another method, the step of introducing a single locus conversion,single trait conversion, or a desired trait in at least one of theparents comprises genetically transforming or mutating cells theparental line of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, growing the cells into aplant; and optionally selecting plants that contain the single locusconversion, the single trait conversion, or the desired trait.

In any of the above methods, where the single locus conversion concernsa trait, the trait may be yield or pest resistance or diseaseresistance. In one aspect, the trait is disease resistance and theresistance is conferred to Bacterial Wilt, Root Rot, Crown Blight, MelonRust, Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 1, Podosphaeraxanthii (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 2, Podosphaera xanthii(Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 3, Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerothecafuliginea) race 5, Golovinomyces cichoracearum (Erysiphe cichoracearum)race 1, Verticillum Wilt, Sulphur Burn, Scab, Downy Mildew, Fusariumoxysporum f.sp. melonis race 0, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 1,Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 2, Fusarium oxysporum fsp. melonisrace 1-2, Fusarium Wilt R2, Root Knot (Nematode), Anthracnose, Aphid,Pickle Worm, Darkling Ground Beetle, Banded Cucumber Beetle, Mite,Western Spotted Cucumber Beetle, Melon Leafhopper, Melon Worm, WesternStriped Cucumber Beetle and/or Melon Leafminer. Other resistances,against pathogenic viruses, e.g., Melon Necrotic Spot Virus (MNSV)resistance, Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), Zuchini Yellow Mosaic Virus(ZYMV), Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV), Watermelon Mosaic Virus (WMV),Squash Mosaic Virus (SMV), Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus (ToLCNDV),Cucumber Yellow Stunting Disorder Virus (CYSDV), fungi, bacteria,nematodes, insects, or other pests may also be introduced, or othertraits such as Melon Yellowing associated Virus (MYaV) and Whiteflyresistances.

The disclosure also provides a plant having one, two, or threephysiological and/or morphological characteristics which are differentfrom those of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and which otherwise has allthe physiological and morphological characteristics of said variety,wherein a representative sample of seed of said melon variety has beendeposited under Accession Number NCIMB 44082. In particular, variantsare encompassed which differ from melon variety NUN 71560 MEM in none,one, two, or three of the characteristics mentioned in Tables 1 and 2are encompassed.

The disclosure also provides a plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of melon variety NNUN 71560 MEM, a sample of seed hasbeen deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 44082, optionally furthercomprising a single locus conversion. In another aspect, the singlelocus conversion confers a trait wherein the trait is yield, storageproperties, color, flavor, size, firmness, enhanced nutritional quality,post-harvest quality, male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, modified metabolism, orripening.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a haploid plant and/or adoubled haploid plant of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, or a plant havingall but one, two or three physiological and/or morphologicalcharacteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, or progeny of any of thevariety. Haploid and doubled haploid (DH) plants can, for example, beproduced by cell or tissue culture and chromosome doubling agents andregeneration into a whole plant. DH production chromosome doubling maybe induced using known methods, such as colchicine treatment or thelike. In one aspect, the method comprises inducing a cell or tissueculture with a chromosome doubling agent and regenerating the cells ortissues into a whole plant.

In another aspect, the disclosure comprises a method for making doubledhaploid cells of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, comprising making doubledhaploid cells from haploid cells from the plant or plant part of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM with a chromosome doubling agent such ascolchicine treatment (see, e.g., Nikolova and Niemirowicz-Szczytt (1996)Acta Soc Bot Pol 65:311-317).

In another aspect, the disclosure provides for haploid plants and/ordoubled haploid plants derived from melon variety NUN 71560 MEM that,when combined, make a set of parents of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. Thehaploid plant and/or the doubled haploid plant of variety NUN 71560 MEMcan be used in a method for generating parental lines of melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM.

The disclosure also provides methods for determining the identity ofparental lines of plants described herein, in particular the identity ofthe female line. US2015/0126380, which is hereby incorporated byreference, relates to a non-destructive method for analyzing maternalDNA of a seed. In this method, the DNA is dislodged from the seed coatsurface and can be used to collect information on the genome of thematernal parent of the seed. This method for analyzing maternal DNA of aseed comprises contacting a seed with a fluid to dislodge DNA from theseed coat surface, and analyzing the DNA thus dislodged from the seedcoat surface using methods known in the art. The skilled person is thusable to determine whether a seed has grown on a plant of a plant ofvariety NUN 71560 MEM, or is a progeny of said variety, because the seedcoat of the seed is a maternal tissue genetically identical to melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM. In one aspect, the disclosure relates to amaternal tissue of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. In another aspect, thedisclosure relates to a melon seed comprising a maternal tissue of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM. In another particular aspect, the disclosureprovides a method of identifying the female parental line of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM by analyzing the seed coat of a seed of thatvariety. In another aspect, the skilled person can determine whether aseed is grown on melon variety NUN 71560 MEM by analyzing the seed coator another maternal tissue of said seed.

Using methods known in the art such as “reverse synthesis of breedinglines” or “reverse breeding”, it is possible to produce parental linesfor a hybrid plant such as melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. A skilled personcan take any individual heterozygous plant (called a “phenotypicallysuperior plant” in Example 2 of US2015/0245570 hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety; melon variety NUN 71560 MEM is such plant)and generate a combination of parental lines (reverse breeding parentallines) that, when crossed, produce the variety NUN 71560 MEM. It is notnecessary that the reverse breeding parental lines are identical to theoriginal parental lines. Such new breeding methods are based on thesegregation of individual alleles in the spores produced by a desiredplant and/or in the progeny derived from the self-pollination of thatdesired plant, and on the subsequent identification of suitable progenyplants in one generation, or in a limited number of inbred cycles. Sucha method is known from US2015/0245570 or from Wijnker et al., NatureProtocols Volume: 9, Pages: 761-772 (2014) DOI:doi:10.1038/nprot.2014.049. Thus, the disclosure provides a method forproducing parental lines for a hybrid organism (e.g., melon variety NUN71560 MEM), comprising in one aspect: a) defining a set of geneticmarkers present in a heterozygous form (H) in a partially heterozygousstarting organism; b) producing doubled haploid lines from spores of thestarting organism; c) genetically characterizing the doubled haploidlines thus obtained for the said set of genetic markers to determinewhether they are present in a first homozygous form (A) or in a secondhomozygous form (B); and d) selecting at least one pair of doubledhaploid lines that have complementary alleles for at least a subset ofthe genetic markers, wherein each member of the pair is suitable as aparental line for the hybrid organism.

In another aspect, the method for producing parental lines for hybridorganisms, e.g., of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, which when crossedreconstitute the genome of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, comprising:

-   a. defining a set genetic markers that are present a heterozygous    form (H) in a partially heterozygous starting organism;-   b. producing at least one further generation from the starting    organism by self-pollination (e.g., F2 or F3 generation);-   c. selecting at least one pair of progeny organisms in which at    least one genetic marker from the set is present in a complementary    homozygous form (B vs. A, or A vs. B); and-   d. optionally repeating steps b) and c) until at least one pair of    progeny organisms that have complementary alleles for at least a    subset of the genetic markers has been selected as parental lines    for a hybrid.

The disclosure relates to a method of producing a combination ofparental lines of a plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM, comprising makingdoubled haploid cells from haploid cells from said plant or a seed ofthat plant; and optionally crossing these parental lines to produce andcollecting seeds. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to acombination of parental lines produced by this method. In still anotheraspect, the combination of parental lines can be used to produce a seedor plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM, when these parental lines arecrossed. In still another aspect, the disclosure relates to acombination of parental lines from which a seed or plant having allphysiological and/or morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN71560 MEM (when the characteristics are determined at the 5%significance level for plants grown under the same conditions).

The disclosure also provides a combination of parental lines which, whencrossed, produce a seed or plant having all physiological and/ormorphological characteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, but one,two, or three characteristics which are different (when grown under thesame environmental conditions), as well as a seed or plant having allphysiological and/or morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN71560 MEM, but one, two, or three characteristics which are different(when the numerical characteristics are determined at the 5%significance level for plants and determined by type or degree fornon-numerical characteristics, when grown under the same conditions).

In another aspect, a combination of a male and a female parental line ofNUN 71560 MEM can be generated by methods described herein, for example,through reverse synthesis of breeding lines.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of determining thegenotype of a plant described herein comprising detecting in the genome(e.g., a sample of nucleic acids) of the plant at least a firstpolymorphism or an allele. The skilled person is familiar with manysuitable methods of genotyping, detecting a polymorphism or detecting anallele including SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) genotyping,restriction fragment length polymorphism identification (RFLP) ofgenomic DNA, random amplified polymorphic detection (RAPD) of genomicDNA, amplified fragment length polymorphism detection (AFLP), polymerasechain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, allele specific oligonucleotide(ASO) probes, and hybridization to DNA microarrays or beads.Alternatively, the entire genome could be sequenced. The method may, incertain embodiments, comprise detecting a plurality of polymorphisms inthe genome of the plant, for example, by obtaining a sample of nucleicacid from a plant and detecting in said nucleic acids a plurality ofpolymorphisms. The method may further comprise storing the results ofthe step of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on a computerreadable medium.

Also provided is a plant part obtained from variety NUN 71560 MEM (orfrom progeny of said variety or from a plant having all or all but one,two, or three of the physiological and morphological characteristicswhich are different from those of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM or from avegetatively propagated plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM, or from itsprogeny or from a plant having all or all but one, two, or three of thephysiological and morphological characteristics which are different fromthose of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM), wherein said plant part is afruit, a harvested fruit, a part of a fruit, a leaf, a part of a leaf,pollen, an ovule, a cell, a petiole, a shoot or a part thereof, a stemor a part thereof, a root or a part thereof, a root tip, a cutting, aseed, a part of a seed, seed coat or another maternal tissue which ispart of a seed grown on said variety, a hypocotyl, cotyledon, a scion, astock, a rootstock, a pistil, an anther, and a flower or a part thereof.

A part of the plant of variety NUN 71560 MEM (or of progeny of saidvariety or of a plant having all of the physiological and/ormorphological characteristics but one, two or three which are differentfrom those of said variety) encompasses any cells, tissues, organsobtainable from the seedlings or plants, such as but not limited to: amelon fruit or a part thereof, a cutting, a hypocotyl, a cotyledon, seedcoat, or pollen. Such a plant part of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM can bestored and/or processed further.

The disclosure thus also provides for a food or a feed productcomprising one or more of such parts from melon variety NUN 71560 MEM,or from progeny of said variety, or from a derived variety, such as aplant having all but one, two or three physiological and/ormorphological characteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.Preferably, the plant part is a melon fruit or part thereof and/or anextract from a fruit or another plant part described herein comprisingat least one cell of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. The food or feedproduct may be fresh or processed, e.g., dried, grinded, powdered,pickled, chopped, cooked, roasted, in a sauce, in a sandwich, pasted,pureed or concentrated, juiced, sliced, canned, steamed, boiled, fried,blanched or frozen, etc.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides for a melon fruit of varietyNUN 71560 MEM, or part of a fruit of said variety. The fruit can be inany stage of maturity, for example, immature or mature. In anotheraspect, the disclosure provides for a container comprising or consistingof a plurality of harvested melon fruits or parts of fruits of saidvariety, or fruits of progeny thereof, or fruits of a derived variety.

Marketable fruits are generally sorted by size and quality afterharvest. Alternatively, the fruits can be sorted by expected shelf life,pH or Brix.

In another aspect, the plant, plant part or seed of melon variety NUN71560 MEM is inside one or more containers. For example, the disclosureprovides containers such as cans, boxes, crates, bags, cartons, ModifiedAtmosphere Packaging, films (e.g., biodegradable films), etc. comprisinga plant or part of a plant (fresh and/or processed) or a seed of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM. In a particular aspect, the container comprises aplurality of seeds of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, or a plurality ofplant parts of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. The seed may be disinfected,primed and/or treated with various compounds, such as seed coatings orcrop protection compounds. The seed produces a plant of variety NUN71560 MEM.

Melons may also be grown for use as rootstocks (stocks) or scions.Typically, different types of melons are grafted to enhance diseaseresistance, which is usually conferred by the rootstock, while retainingthe horticultural qualities usually conferred by the scion. It is notuncommon for grafting to occur between cultivated melon varieties andrelated melon species. Methods of grafting and vegetative propagationare well-known in the art.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides to a plant comprising arootstock or scion of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.

All documents (e.g., patent publications) are herein incorporated byreference in their entirety, including the following cited references:

Naktuinbow, Calibration book Cucumis melo L., world-wide web atnaktuinbow.nl.

US Department of Agriculture, Objective Description of Variety -Muskmelon/Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.)″, world-wide web at ams.usda.gov/under services/plant-variety-protection/pvpo-c-forms under muskmelon.

UPOV, Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for Distinctness, Uniformityand Stability, TG104/5, world-wide web atupov.int/edocs/tgdocs/en/tg104.pdf.

Colijn-Hooymans, J.C., et. al., “Competence for Regeneration of CucumberCotyledons is Restricted to Specific Developmental Stages”, Plant Cell,Tissue and Organ Culture, 1994, vol. 39, pp. 211-217.

Hartz, T., et. al, “Cantaloupe Production in California,” University ofCalifornia Division of Agriculture and Natural Resouces, VegetableProduction Series, Publication 7218, pp. 1-4.

Mayberry, K., et. al., “Mized Melon Production in California,”University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resouces,Vegetable Production Series, Publication 7209, pp. 1-3.

Needleman, S.B., et. al., “A General Method Applicable to the Search forSimilarities in the Amino Acid Sequence of Two Proteins”, Journal ofMolecular Biology, 1970, vol. 48(3), pp. 443-53.

Nikolova, V., et. al., “Diploidization of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)Haploids by Colchini Treatment”, Acta Societas Botanicorum Poloniae,1996, vol. 65, pp. 311-317.

Parvathaneni, R.K., et al., “Fingerprinting in Cucumber and Melon(Cucumis spp.) genotypes Using Morphological and ISSR Markers”, Journalof Crop Science and Biotechnology, 2011, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 39-43. DOINo. 10.1007/s12892-010-0080-1.

Rice, P., et al., “EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open SoftwareSuite”, Trends in Genetics, 2000, vol. 16, Issue 6. pp. 276-277.

Ren, Y., et al., “Shoot Regeneration and Ploidy Variation in TissueCulture of Honeydew Melon (Cucumis melo L. inodorus)”, In Vitro Cellular& Development Biology- Plant, 2013, vol. 49, p. 223-229.

Vidavsky, F., et. al., “Tomato Breeding Lines Resistant and Tolerant toTomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus Issued from Lycopersicum hirsutum”, TheAmerican Phytopathology Society, 1998, vol. 88, no. 9, pp. 910-914.

Vos, P., et al., AFLP: A New Technique for DNA Fingerprinting 1995,Nucleic Acids Research, 1995, vol. 23, No. 21, pp. 4407-4414.

Wijnker, E., et al., Hybrid Recreation by Reverse breeding inArabidopsis thaliana, Nature Protocols, 2014, vol. 9, pp. 761-772. DOI:doi: 10.1038/nprot.2014.049

US 10,334,797

US 2015/0126380

US 2015/0245570

US 2017/0071145

US 2017/0240913

US 2017/0335339

Development of Melon Variety NUN 71560 MEM

The hybrid variety NUN 71560 MEM was developed from a male and femaleproprietary inbred line of Nunhems. The female and male parents werecrossed to produce hybrid (F1) seeds of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM. Theseeds of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM can be grown to produce hybridplants and parts thereof (e.g., melon fruit). The hybrid variety NUN71560 MEM can be propagated by seeds or vegetatively.

The hybrid variety is uniform and genetically stable. This has beenestablished through evaluation of horticultural characteristics. Severalhybrid seed production events resulted in no observable deviation ingenetic stability. Coupled with the confirmation of genetic stability ofthe respective female and male parents the Applicant has concluded thatmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM is uniform and stable.

Deposit Information

A total of 625 seeds of the hybrid variety NUN 71560 MEM was made andaccepted according to the Budapest Treaty by Nunhems B.V. on Nov. 29,2022 at the NCIMB Ltd., Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn,Aberdeen AB21 9YA, United Kingdom (NCIMB). The deposit has been assignedAccession Number NCIMB 44082. A statement indicating the viability ofthe sample has been provided. A deposit of melon variety NUN 71560 MEMand of the male and female parent line is also maintained at NunhemsB.V. The seed lot number for melon variety NUN 71560 MEM is 32480201002.

The deposit will be maintained in NCIMB for a period of 30 years, or 5years after the most recent request, or for the enforceable life of thepatent whichever is longer and will be replaced if it ever becomesnonviable during that period. Access to the deposits will be availableduring the pendency of this application to persons determined by theDirector of the U.S. Patent Office to be entitled thereto upon request.Subject to 37 C.F.R. § 1.808(b), all restrictions imposed by thedepositor on the availability to the public of the deposited materialwill be irrevocably removed upon the granting of the patent. Applicantdoes not waive any rights granted under this patent on this applicationor under the Plant Variety Protection Act (7 U.S.C. § 2321 et seq.).Accordingly, the requirements of 37 CFR § 1.801-1.809 have beensatisfied.

Characteristics of Melon Variety NUN 71560 MEM

The most similar variety to NUN 71560 MEM refers to variety Summer Dew,a commercial variety from Harris Moran.

In Tables 1 and 2, a comparison between melon variety NUN 71560 MEM andthe Reference Variety are shown based on a trial in the USA under openfield conditions. Trial location: Acampo, California, USA; Harvestingdate: Aug. 19, 2022. In Table 3, the distinguishing characteristicsbetween melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety are shown.

One replication of 20 plants per variety, from which at least 15 plantsor plant parts were randomly selected and were used to measure thecharacteristics. For numerical characteristics, averages werecalculated. For non-numerical characteristics, the type/degree weredetermined. Similarity and differences between two different plant linesor varieties can be determined by comparing the number of morphologicaland/or physiological characteristics (e.g., characteristics as listed inTables 1 and 2) that are the same (i.e., statistically not significantlydifferent) or that are different (i.e., statistically significantlydifferent) between the two plant lines or varieties using plants grownunder the same environmental conditions. A numerical characteristic isconsidered to be “the same” when the value for a numeric characteristicis not significantly different at the 1% (p < 0.01) or 5% (p < 0.05)significance level, using T-test, a standard method known to the skilledperson. Non-numerical or “degree” or “type” characteristic is considered“the same” when the values have the same “degree” or “type” when scoredusing USDA and/ or UPOV descriptors, for plants are grown under the sameenvironmental conditions. In one aspect, a statistical analysis usingthe T-Test at 5% significance level is provided (see, Tables 4-18).

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a plant having thephysiological and morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN71560 MEM as presented in Tables 1 and 2 when grown under the sameenvironmental conditions, wherein a representative sample of seed ofsaid melon variety is deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 44082.Table 1. Objective Description of Melon Variety NUN 71560 MEM and theReference Variety (USDA Descriptors) based on California, USA Trial,2022

Characteristics Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM) Reference Variety(Summer Dew) Type: Persian; Honey Dew; Casaba; Crenshaw; Common/Summer;Other Honey Dew Honey Dew Area of best adaptation Most areas Most areasMaturity Days from seeding to harvest 80 days 90 days Maturity cycle:Early Late Plant Fertility: andromonoecious, monoecious, gynoecious,other Andromonoecious Andromonoecious Habit: vine, semi-bush, bush VineVine Vigor: Strong Strong Leaf (mature blade of third leaf) Shape:orbicular, ovate, reniform Reniform Reniform Lobes: not lobed, shallowlylobed, deeply lobed Shallowly lobed Shallowly lobed Color: light green,medium green, dark green Dark green RHS N137B Dark green N137A Length(cm): 16.21 cm 14.03 cm Width (cm): 15.77 cm 14.13 cm Surface:pubescent, glabrous, scabrous Scabrous Scabrous Fruit (at ediblematurity) Length (cm): 16.47 cm 17.15 cm Diameter (cm): 23.44 cm 15.25cm Weight (kg): 1.76 kg 1.89 kg Shape: oblate, round,elongate-cylindrical, spindle, acorn Round Oval Surface: smooth, netted,corrugated, warted Smooth Smooth Blossom Scar: obscure, conspicuousConspicuous Conspicuous Rib Presence: absent, present Absent Absent RibsSurface: smooth, netted Smooth Smooth Suture Depth: shallow, medium,deep Shallow Shallow Suture Surface: smooth, netted Smooth SmoothShipping Quality: poor, fair, excellent Excellent Excellent FruitAbscission: when ripe, when overripe, do not abscise Does not absciseDoes not abscise Rind Net Net Presence: absent, sparse, abundant AbsentAbsent Rind Texture Texture: soft, firm, hard Hard Hard Thickness atMedial (mm): 44.28 mm 45.47 mm Rind Color: white, cream, buff, yellow,gold, green, orange, bronze, brown, gray, black, other Rind Color (atedible maturity) Primary color: White RHS 155A White RHS 157A Flesh (atedible maturity): white, cream, yellow, green, orange, salmon, pink,other Color Near Cavity: Yellow green RHS 145D Yellow green RHS 145CColor in Center: Yellow green RHS 145D Yellow green RHS 144A Color NearRind: Yellow green RHS 145D Yellow green RHS 144A Refractometer %Soluble Solids (Center of Flesh): 15.37% 10.34% Aroma: absent, faint,strong Absent Absent Flavor: mild, somewhat spicy, very spicy Mild MildSeed Cavity Length (mm): 101.61 mm 105.35 Width (mm): 61.09 mm 69.84 mmShape in X-Section: circular, triangular Triangular Triangular DiseaseResistances Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis Race 0 Intermediatelyresistant Highly resistant Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis Race 2Intermediately resistant Highly resistant Podosphaera xanthii Race 1Absent Intermediately resistant Podosphaera xanthii Race 2 AbsentIntermediately resistant Podosphaera xanthii Race 5 Intermediatelyresistant Absent Aphis gossypii Present Absent

TABLE 2 Objective Description of Melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and theReference Variety (Non-USDA Descriptors) based on California, USA Trial,2022 Characteristics Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM) ReferenceVariety (Summer Dew) Leaf (mature blade of 3^(rd) leaf) Size: verysmall, very small to small, small, small to medium, medium, medium tolarge, large, large to very large, very large Medium Medium Intensity ofgreen color: very light, very light to light, light, light to medium,medium, medium to dark, dark, dark to very dark, very dark Dark Dark tovery dark Development of lobes: very weak, very weak to weak, weak, weakto medium, medium, medium to strong, strong, strong to very strongMedium Medium Length of terminal lobe: very short, very short to short,short, short to medium, medium, medium to long, long, long to very long,very long Short Short Dentation of margin: very weak, very weak to weak,weak, weak to medium, medium, medium to strong, strong, strong to verystrong, very strong Weak Weak Blistering: very weak, very weak to weak,weak, weak to medium, medium, medium to strong, strong, strong to verystrong, very strong Weak Weak to medium Petiole attitude: erect, erectto semi-erect, semi-erect, semi-erect to horizontal, horizontal ErectErect Petiole length: very short, very short to short, short, short tomedium, medium, medium to long, long, long to very long, very long LongMedium Petiole length, cm: 18.44 cm 14.73 cm Petiole width, mm: 5.72 mm5.65 mm Young fruit (unripe fruit, before the color change) Hue of greencolor of skin: whitish green, yellowish green, green, greyish greenGreyish green Greyish green Intensity of green color of skin: verylight, very light to light, light, light to medium, medium, medium todark, dark, dark to very dark, very dark Light Light Density of dots:absent or very sparse, very sparse, sparse, sparse to medium, medium,medium to dense, dense, dense to very dense, very dense Absent or verysparse Medium Size of dots: very small, very small to small, small,small to medium, medium, medium to large, large, large to very large,very large Small Very small Contrast of dot color/ground color: veryweak, very weak to weak, weak, weak to medium, medium, medium to strong,strong, strong to very strong, very strong Weak Medium Conspicuousnessof groove coloring: absent or very weak, very weak to weak, weak, weakto medium, medium, medium to strong, strong, strong to very strongAbsent or very weak Absent or very weak Intensity of Groove Coloring:very light, very light to light, light, light to medium, medium, mediumto dark, dark, dark to very dark, very dark Light Very light Length ofpeduncle: very short, very short to short, short, short to medium,medium, medium to long, long, long to very long, very long Medium LongLength of peduncle, mm: 28.39 mm 29.73 mm Thickness of peduncle 1 cmfrom fruit: very thin, very thin to thin, thin, thin to medium, medium,medium to thick, thick to very thick, very thick Medium Medium Thicknessof peduncle, mm: 7.54 mm 7.93 mm Extension of darker area aroundpeduncle: absent or very small, very small to small, small, small tomedium, medium, medium to large, large, large to very large Absent orvery small Absent or very small Young fruit ground color: Yellow greenYellow green Young fruit dot color: Yellow green Yellow green Fruit (atedbile maturity) Fruit length: very short, very short to short, short,short to medium, medium, medium to long, long, long to very long, verylong Medium Medium Diameter: very narrow, very narrow to narrow, narrow,narrow to medium, medium, medium to broad, broad, broad to very broad,very broad Broad Medium Ratio of length/diameter: very small, very smallto small, small, small to medium, medium, medium to large, large, largeto very large, very large Small to medium Medium Ratio oflength/diameter: 0.70 1.12 Position of maximum diameter: toward stemend, at middle, toward blossom end At middle At middle Shape inlongitudinal section: ovate, medium elliptic, broad elliptic, circular,quadrangular, oblate, obovate, elongated Circular Broad elliptic Groundcolor of skin: white, yellow, green, grey, White White Intensity ofground color of skin: very light, very light to light, light, light tomedium, medium, medium to dark, dark, dark to very dark, very dark LightLight Hue of ground color of skin: absent or very weak, whitish,yellowish, orange, ochre, greenish, greyish Whitish Whitish Density ofdots: absent or very sparse, very sparse, sparse, sparse to medium,medium, medium to dense, dense, dense to very dense, very dense MediumMedium Size of dots: very small, very small to small, small, small tomedium, medium, medium to large, large, large to very large, very largeVery small Very small Color of dots: white, yellow, green White WhiteIntensity of color of dots: very light, very light to light, light,light to medium, medium, medium to dark, dark, dark to very dark, verydark Light Light Density of patches: absent or very sparse, very sparse,sparse, sparse to medium, medium, medium to dense, dense, dense to verydense, very dense Absent or very sparse Absent or very sparse Warts:absent, present Absent Absent Strength of attachment of peduncle atmaturity: very weak, very weak to weak, weak, weak to medium, medium,medium to strong, strong, strong to very strong, very strong MediumMedium Shape of base: pointed, rounded, truncate Rounded Rounded Shapeof apex: pointed, rounded, truncate Rounded Rounded Size of pistil scar:very small, very small to small, small, small to medium, medium, mediumto large, large, large to very large, very large Medium to large MediumGrooves: absent or weakly expressed, weakly expressed, stronglyexpressed Absent or weakly expressed Absent or weakly expressed Creasingof surface: absent or very weak, very weak to weak, weak, weak tomedium, medium, medium to strong, strong, strong to very strong Absentor very weak Absent or very weak Cork formation: absent, present AbsentAbsent Width of flesh in longitudinal section (at position of maximumfruit diameter): very thin, very thin to thin, thin, thin to medium,medium, medium to thick, thick to very thick, very thick Medium to thickMedium to thick Blossom scar diameter, mm: 15.76 mm 14.85 mm Secondarycolor of skin: absent, present Present Present Distribution of secondarycolor of skin: in dots, in spots, in dots and in spots In dots In dotsFruit size uniformity: Good Good Characteristics Application Variety(NUN 71560 MEM) Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Ease of harvest: EasyEasy Flesh (at edible maturity) Penetrometer, kg: 3.7 kg 4.68 kgInternal cavity: Open Very open Seeds Seed color: whitish, creamy yellowCream yellow Cream yellow Intensity of seed color: Medium Medium to dark

TABLE 3 Distinguishing Characteristics between Melon variety NUN 71560MEM and the Reference Variety Characteristics Application Variety (NUN71560 MEM) Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Maturity Maturity cycle: EarlyLate Leaf (mature blade of 3^(rd) leaf) Color: light green, mediumgreen, dark green Dark green RHS N137B Dark green N137A Length (cm):16.21 cm 14.03 cm Width (cm): 15.77 cm 14.13 cm Petiole length: veryshort, very short to short, short, short to medium, medium, medium tolong, long, long to very long, very long Long Medium Petiole length, cm:18.44 cm 14.73 cm Intensity of green color: very light, very light tolight, light, light to medium, medium, medium to dark, dark, dark tovery dark, very dark Dark Dark to very dark Blistering: very weak, veryweak to weak, weak, weak to medium, medium, medium to strong, strong,strong to very strong, very strong Weak Weak to medium Young fruit(unripe fruit, before the color change) Characteristics ApplicationVariety (NUN 71560 MEM) Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Density of dots:absent or very sparse, very sparse, sparse, sparse to medium, medium,medium to dense, dense, dense to very dense, very dense Absent or verysparse Medium Size of dots: very small, very small to small, small,small to medium, medium, medium to large, large, large to very large,very large Small Very small Contrast of dot color/ground color: veryweak, very weak to weak, weak, weak to medium, medium, medium to strong,strong, strong to very strong, very strong Weak Medium Length ofpeduncle: very short, very short to short, short, short to medium,medium, medium to long, long, long to very long, very long Medium LongFruit (at edible maturity) Shape: oblate, round, elongate-cylindrical,spindle, acorn Round Oval Diameter: very narrow, very narrow to narrow,narrow, narrow to medium, medium, medium to broad, broad, broad to verybroad, very broad Broad Medium Ratio of length/diameter: very small,very small to small, small, small to medium, medium, medium to large,large, large to very large, very large Small to medium Medium Shape inlongitudinal section: ovate, medium elliptic, broad elliptic, circular,quadrangular, oblate, obovate, elongated Circular Broad elliptic Size ofpistil scar: very small, very small to small, small, small to medium,medium, medium to large, large, large to very large, very large Mediumto large Medium Rind Color (at edible maturity) CharacteristicsApplication Variety (NUN 71560 MEM) Reference Variety (Summer Dew)Primary color: White RHS 155A White RHS 157A Flesh (at edible maturity)Color Near Cavity: Yellow green RHS 145D Yellow green RHS 145C Color inCenter: Yellow green RHS 145D Yellow green RHS 144A Color Near Rind:Yellow green RHS 145D Yellow green RHS 144A Refractometer % SolubleSolids (Center of Flesh): 15.37% 10.34% Penetrometer, kg: 3.7 kg 4.68 kgSeed Cavity Width (mm): 61.09 mm 69.84 mm Seeds Intensity of seed color:Medium Medium to dark Disease resistances Podosphaera xanthii Race 1Absent Intermediately resistant Podosphaera xanthii Race 2 AbsentIntermediately resistant Podosphaera xanthii Race 5 Intermediatelyresistant Absent Aphis gossypii Present Absent

The results of the T-Test show significant differences at 5%significance level between melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the ReferenceVariety for mature leaf length, mature leaf width, leaf petiole length,% soluble solids, seed cavity width, and penetrometer reading as shownin Tables 4-9.

Table 4 shows a significant difference at 5% significance level betweenmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p<0.001) formature leaf length (cm) based on the trial conducted in the US in 2022.

TABLE 4 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 13.1012.20 Maximum 18.70 16.40 Median 16.10 14.20 Mean 16.21 14.03 Standarddeviation 1.50 1.05

Table 5 shows a significant difference at 5% significance level betweenmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.002) formature leaf width (cm) based on the trial conducted in the US in 2022.

TABLE 5 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 12.1012.40 Maximum 17.90 16.40 Median 16.30 14.40 Mean 15.77 14.13 Standarddeviation 1.42 1.11

Table 6 shows a significant difference at 5% significance level betweenmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.001) for leafpetiole length (cm) based on the trial conducted in the US in 2022.

TABLE 6 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 14.1011.20 Maximum 21.20 23.70 Median 18.70 14.20 Mean 18.44 14.73 Standarddeviation 2.04 3.05

Table 7 shows a significant difference at 5% significance level betweenmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p<0.001) forsoluble solids (% ) based on the trial conducted in the US in 2022.

TABLE 7 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 11.307.60 Maximum 18.0 13.60 Median 15.30 10.10 Mean 15.37 10.34 Standarddeviation 1.90 1.71

Table 8 shows a significant difference at 5% significance level betweenmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.001) for seedcavity width (mm) based on the trial conducted in the US in 2022.

TABLE 8 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 51.4157.38 Maximum 71.43 83.03 Median 61.64 70.44 Mean 61.09 69.84 Standarddeviation 6.27 6.82

Table 9 shows a significant difference at 5% significance level betweenmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.007) forpenetrometer reading (kg) based on the trial conducted in the US in2022.

TABLE 9 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 3.0 2.80Maximum 4.50 7.40 Median 3.60 4.60 Mean 3.70 4.68 Standard deviation0.48 1.16

The results of the T-Test show no significant difference at 5%significance level between melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the ReferenceVariety for leaf petiole width, mature fruit weight, mature fruitlength, mature fruit diameter, blossom scar diameter, peduncle length,peduncle width, thickness at medial, and seed cavity length as shown inTable 10-18.

Table 10 shows no significant difference at 5% significance levelbetween melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.766)for leaf petiole width (mm) based on the trial conducted in the US in2022.

TABLE 10 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 3.66 4.75Maximum 7.07 6.88 Median 5.67 5.72 Mean 5.72 5.65 Standard deviation0.74 0.58

Table 11 shows no significant difference at 5% significance levelbetween melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.190)for mature fruit weight (kg) based on the trial conducted in the US in2022.

TABLE 11 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 1.21 1.60Maximum 2.11 2.40 Median 1.86 1.80 Mean 1.76 1.89 Standard deviation0.26 0.28

Table 12 shows no significant difference at 5% significance levelbetween melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.097)for mature fruit length (cm) based on the trial conducted in the US in2022.

TABLE 12 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 13.7015.30 Maximum 18.0 18.90 Median 16.70 17.10 Mean 16.47 17.15 Standarddeviation 1.11 1.03

Table 13 shows no significant difference at 5% significance levelbetween melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.132)for mature fruit diameter (cm) based on the trial conducted in the US in2022.

TABLE 13 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 13.3014.10 Maximum 15.70 16.50 Median 14.90 15.0 Mean 14.81 15.25 Standarddeviation 0.74 0.79

Table 14 shows no significant difference at 5% significance levelbetween melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.493)for blossom scar diameter (mm) based on the trial conducted in the US in2022.

TABLE 14 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 10.878.51 Maximum 20.88 26.09 Median 15.54 14.56 Mean 15.76 14.85 Standarddeviation 2.46 4.43

Table 15 shows no significant difference at 5% significance levelbetween melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.569)for peduncle length (mm) based on the trial conducted in the US in 2022.

TABLE 15 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 22.1122.56 Maximum 38.79 47.71 Median 26.72 26.94 Mean 28.39 29.73 Standarddeviation 4.60 7.78

Table 16 shows no significant difference at 5% significance levelbetween melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.303)for peduncle width (mm) based on the trial conducted in the US in 2022.

TABLE 16 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 6.42 5.68Maximum 8.91 9.57 Median 7.36 7.97 Mean 7.57 7.93 Standard deviation0.78 1.04

Table 17 shows no significant difference at 5% significance levelbetween melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.448)for thickness at medial (mm) based on the trial conducted in the US in2022.

TABLE 17 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 32.5038.79 Maximum 50.53 52.98 Median 45.34 46.15 Mean 44.28 45.47 Standarddeviation 4.66 3.77

Table 18 shows no significant difference at 5% significance levelbetween melon variety NUN 71560 MEM and the Reference Variety (p=0.166)for seed cavity length (mm) based on the trial conducted in the US in2022.

TABLE 18 Statistical Parameter Application Variety (NUN 71560 MEM)Reference Variety (Summer Dew) Number of samples 15 15 Minimum 85.091.05 Maximum 116.63 120.61 Median 102.17 105.19 Mean 101.61 105.35Standard deviation 7.40 6.98

1. A plant or seed of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, wherein arepresentative sample of seed of said melon variety NUN 71560 MEM hasbeen deposited under Accession Number NCIMB
 44082. 2. A plant part ofthe plant of claim 1, wherein said plant part is a leaf, a cell, afruit, a scion, a root, a rootstock, or a cutting.
 3. A seed thatproduces the plant of claim
 1. 4. A seed grown on the plant of claim 1,wherein the plant grown from said seed does not differ in any of themorphological and physiological characteristics from the plant of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM when grown under the same environmentalconditions, and wherein a representative sample of seed of melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB
 44082. 5.A melon plant or part thereof having all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the plant of claim 1 when grown underthe same environmental conditions.
 6. A tissue culture or cell culturecomprising regenerable cells of the plant or plant part of claim
 1. 7.The tissue culture or cell culture according to claim 6, comprisingcells or protoplasts obtained from a plant part suitable for vegetativereproduction, wherein the plant part is a meristem, a fruit, a leaf,pollen, an ovule, a cell, a petiole, a shoot, a stem, a root, a roottip, a cutting, a hypocotyl, a cotyledon, a scion, a stock, a rootstock,a pistil, an anther, a flower, a seed, a stem, or a stalk.
 8. A methodof producing the plant of claim 1 or a part thereof, said methodcomprising vegetatively propagating at least a part of the plant ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM, wherein a representative sample of seed ofsaid melon variety NUN 71560 MEM has been deposited under AccessionNumber NCIMB
 44082. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said vegetativelypropagating comprises regenerating a whole plant from said part of theplant of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM, wherein a representative sample ofseed of said melon variety NUN 71560 MEM has been deposited underAccession Number NCIMB
 44082. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein saidpart is a cutting, a cell culture, or a tissue culture.
 11. Avegetatively propagated plant or a part thereof, produced by the methodof claim 8, wherein the plant has all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the plant of melon variety NUN 71560MEM when grown under the same environmental conditions, and wherein arepresentative sample of seed of said melon variety NUN 71560 MEM hasbeen deposited under Accession Number NCIMB
 44082. 12. A method ofproducing a melon plant, said method comprising crossing the plant ofclaim 1 with a second plant at least once, and selecting a progeny melonplant from said crossing and optionally allowing the progeny melon plantto form seed.
 13. A method of producing a melon seed, said methodcomprising crossing melon plants and harvesting the resultant seed,wherein at least one melon plant is the plant of claim 1, wherein arepresentative sample of seed of said melon variety NUN 71560 MEM hasbeen deposited under Accession Number NCIMB
 44082. 14. A method ofintroducing a single locus conversion into the plant of claim 1,comprising: a. crossing the plant of claim 1 with a second melon plantcomprising a desired single locus to produce F1 progeny plants; b.selecting F1 progeny plants that have the single locus to produceselected F1 progeny plants; c. crossing the selected F1 progeny plantswith melon variety NUN 71560 MEM to produce backcross progeny plants; d.selecting backcross progeny plants that have the single locus andotherwise comprise all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of melon variety NUN 71560 MEM to produce selectedbackcross progeny plants; and e. repeating steps (c) and (d) one or moretimes in succession to produce selected second or higher backcrossprogeny plants that comprise the single locus conversion and otherwisecomprise all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM, wherein a representative sample of seed ofsaid melon variety NUN 71560 MEM has been deposited under AccessionNumber NCIMB
 44082. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the single locusconversion confers male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, modified metabolism, orripening.
 16. A melon plant produced by the method of claim 14, whereinthe plant comprises the single locus conversion and otherwise has all ofthe morphological and physiological characteristics of the plant ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM.
 17. A method of producing doubled haploidcells of the plant of claim 1, said method comprising making doublehaploid cells from haploid cells from the plant or seed of melon varietyNUN 71560 MEM, wherein a representative sample of seed of said melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB44082.
 18. A method of grafting the scion or rootstock, said methodcomprising attaching tissue from the scion or rootstock of claim 2 tothe tissue of a second plant, and optionally regenerating a planttherefrom.
 19. A container comprising the plant or seed of claim
 1. 20.A food product, or a feed product, or a processed product comprising theplant part of claim 2, wherein the plant part comprises at least a cellof melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.
 21. A method of introducing a desiredtrait into the plant of claim 1, said method comprises transforming theplant of claim 1 with a transgene that confers the desired trait,wherein the desired trait is male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, or modified metabolism. 22.A melon plant produced by the method of claim 21, wherein thetransformed plant contains the desired trait and otherwise has all ofthe morphological and physiological characteristics of melon variety NUN71560 MEM.
 23. A method of producing a modified melon plant having adesired trait, said method comprising mutating the melon plant or plantpart of claim 1 and selecting the mutated plant with a desired trait,wherein the mutated plant contains the desired trait and otherwise hasall of the physiological and morphological characteristics of melonvariety NUN 71560 MEM when grown under the same environmentalconditions, wherein a representative sample of seed of said melonvariety has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 44082, andwherein the desired trait is male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, or modified metabolism. 24.A method of producing a melon fruit, said method comprising growing theplant of claim 1 until it sets at least one fruit and collecting atleast one fruit.
 25. A melon fruit produced by the method of claim 24.26. A container comprising the fruit or part thereof produced by themethod of claim
 24. 27. A method for determining the genotype of theplant of claim 1, said method comprising obtaining a sample of nucleicacids from said plant and detecting in said nucleic acid a plurality ofpolymorphisms, thereby determining the genotype of the plant, andstoring the results of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on acomputer readable medium.
 28. A method for developing a melon plant in amelon breeding program, said method comprising applying plant breedingtechniques comprising recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigreebreeding, mass selection, mutation breeding, genetic marker enhancedselection, or genetic transformation to the plant of claim 1 or partthereof.
 29. A method of producing a melon plant obtained from the plantof claim 1, comprising: a. preparing a progeny melon plant derived frommelon variety NUN 71560 MEM by crossing the plant of claim 1 with itselfor with a second melon plant; b. crossing the progeny plant with itselfor a second melon plant to produce seed of a progeny plant of asubsequent generation; c. growing a progeny plant of the subsequentgeneration from said seed and crossing the progeny plant of thesubsequent generation with itself or a second melon plant; and d.repeating steps (b) an (c) for at least one more generation to produce amelon plant derived from melon variety NUN 71560 MEM.
 30. A method ofproducing a modified melon plant, said method comprising mutating atarget gene by targeted gene editing in melon plant or plant part ofmelon variety NUN 71560 MEM, wherein the target gene modifies a desiredtrait and wherein the desired trait is male sterility, herbicidetolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance,environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, ormodified metabolism.
 31. A melon plant produced by the method of claim30.